Frequently asked questions

Our sweaters are unisex and run a little small compared with U.S. sizes, so if you're between sizes or like a relaxed fit, size up. Compare the measurements in our size chart below with a sweater you already own and love.

See the full size chart

Yes. Every Llama Corp sweater is cut unisex, so the same size chart works for everyone.

Each sweater is made by hand, so shades can vary slightly from the photos and from one screen to another. That small variation is part of what makes each piece one of a kind.

Our sweaters are handmade by artisans in Ecuador and Peru and ship from our studio in Breckenridge, Colorado. We pack each order in 3–5 business days (add 3–5 more from Thanksgiving to Dec 31), then USPS delivers it: Standard 2–5 business days, Priority ($12) 1–3 days, Express ($35) 1–2 days. You'll get a tracking number by email when it ships.

Read our full shipping policy

Order by 2pm ET on December 3 for Standard delivery before Christmas (December 2 for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and territories). Priority ($12) and Express ($35) orders must be in by December 4.

Read our full shipping policy

No. Orders ship from Colorado, so there are no customs or import fees to pay on delivery.

Check with neighbors and your building's mailroom, then wait 48 hours, since USPS sometimes scans packages early. If it's still missing, email orders@llamacorporation.shop and we'll open a USPS claim. If USPS confirms it's lost, you choose a replacement or a full refund. No tracking update for 7 business days? Email us and we'll request a trace.

Email orders@llamacorporation.shop with your order number as soon as possible. Address corrections need to reach us within 12 hours of ordering, and we can change an order only before it ships. If we can't ship your order on time, we'll email you a new date and you can cancel for a full refund.

Not yet. We ship within the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories and APO/FPO/DPO military addresses.

You can return an unused sweater in its original condition and packaging within 30 days for a refund. Email orders@llamacorporation.shop with your order number and proof of purchase to start. Sale items are final.

Read our full return policy

You pay return shipping, and it isn't refunded. If your sweater arrives damaged or you received the wrong item, we cover everything, including return shipping — email us within 7 days of delivery with photos.

Right now we exchange only sweaters that arrive damaged or defective. If your size isn't right, you can return it within 30 days for a refund and order the size you need.

Our sweaters use regular alpaca, which is smoother and much less prickly than ordinary sheep's wool, and most people wear it comfortably. Regular alpaca is a little coarser than the baby grade, so if your skin is very sensitive you may feel a light tickle at first. A thin layer underneath solves it.

Alpaca contains almost no lanolin, the natural oil in sheep's wool that most people with a 'wool allergy' react to. That's why many wool-sensitive customers wear alpaca comfortably. True animal-fiber allergies are rare but possible, so if you've reacted to alpaca before, check with your doctor first.

They're grades of fineness, not ages of animal. Royal alpaca is the finest (about 18–20 microns), baby alpaca comes next (roughly 20–23 microns), and regular alpaca is a bit thicker. Our sweaters use regular alpaca: warm, hard-wearing and easy to live with every day.

Yes, gram for gram. Alpaca fibers are partly hollow, so they trap warm air while staying light. That means a lighter sweater can keep you as warm as a heavier wool one.

Both are luxury fibers. Cashmere is slightly finer and drapes beautifully; alpaca is stronger, more resistant to pilling, lanolin-free and usually more affordable. If you want everyday warmth that lasts for years, alpaca is the practical choice.

Alpaca breathes and lets moisture escape, so it regulates temperature rather than just trapping heat. Most customers wear it from fall through spring, and indoors with a light layer underneath.

All natural knits can pill a little where they rub, especially in the first weeks. Alpaca pills less than most wools. Gently remove pills by hand or with a sweater comb; a few loose fibers at first is normal for a handmade knit.

Alpaca is heavier and less springy than sheep's wool, so knits can relax with wear. To keep the shape: fold it instead of hanging, dry it flat, and reshape it while damp after washing.

Real alpaca feels cool when you first touch it, feels heavier than it looks, and is soft on the inside as well as the outside. Brushed acrylic is often soft outside but rough inside and pills quickly. Very low prices are the biggest warning sign. Every Llama Corp sweater is knit by hand by our artisans in Otavalo, Ecuador and Arequipa, Peru.

Genuine alpaca is a premium fiber, and every sweater is knit by hand by artisans who earn three times the minimum wage. Sweaters sold as '100% alpaca' for very little are often acrylic or mostly synthetic. You're paying for real fiber, real handwork and a sweater built to last for years.

Wash only when needed. Machine wash on a cold wool or delicates cycle with a wool detergent, with the sweater inside a mesh laundry bag and the lowest spin, or hand wash in cold water. Never wring or twist it, and never use bleach.

See our alpaca care guide

Yes. Use the wool or delicates cycle with cold water and a wool detergent, put the sweater in a mesh laundry bag, and choose the lowest spin. Never tumble dry.

Roll it in a towel to press out water, then lay it flat on a dry towel, reshape it, and let it air dry away from direct heat and sunlight. Never hang it wet and never tumble dry.

Rarely. Alpaca naturally resists odors and dirt, so airing it out overnight is usually enough. Wear a layer underneath to keep it fresh longer.

Hot water, rough agitation and dryers can felt and shrink alpaca. Stick to cold water, gentle handling and flat drying and it will keep its size.

Make sure it's clean, then fold it and keep it in a breathable cotton bag or drawer. Cedar blocks or lavender sachets help keep moths away.

Lift pills by hand or with a sweater comb. For a small stain, dab (don't rub) with a damp cloth and a little mild detergent instead of washing the whole sweater.

Avoid it if you can. Use a steamer, or a low iron setting with a cloth between the iron and the sweater.

Every sweater is knit by hand by women artisans in Otavalo, Ecuador and Arequipa, Peru, including Soledad, Dolores and Mercedes. Our artisans earn three times the minimum wage. Read their stories on our Our Great Woman page.

Yes. We work directly with our artisans in Otavalo and Arequipa, and they earn three times the minimum wage for their work.

No. Alpacas are sheared once a year, in the Andean spring (around December), by experienced shearers. It takes about 5–10 minutes per animal and keeps them cool, clean and healthy through the warmer months, much like a haircut.

Alpaca is a renewable natural fiber. Alpacas graze lightly, and the fiber needs fewer chemical treatments than many wools because it has no lanolin to scour out. A sweater that lasts for years is also less waste.

We accept all major credit and debit cards through secure Stripe checkout.

Yes. For company gifts or bulk orders, email orders@llamacorporation.shop. Allow about 2 weeks before shipping. For Christmas delivery, place bulk orders by mid-November.

Email orders@llamacorporation.shop, or call or WhatsApp +1 970-914-7558 or +1 347-912-8695, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm ET. We reply to emails within 1 business day.