Fashion
Vicuña
Definition
The rarest and most expensive natural textile fibre in the world, derived from the vicuña — a wild camelid found only in the high Andes. Fibre diameter: 12–13 microns (finer than the finest cashmere at 14–15 microns). A single vicuña produces only 200–400g of usable fibre per year. A vicuña overcoat costs $25,000–$50,000.
Why it matters for dupe shopping
There is no dupe for vicuña — the fibre is biologically unique and its scarcity is genuine. The closest alternative is Loro Piana Baby Cashmere (14–15 microns), which achieves 85–90% of the softness at roughly 2–3% of the price. For investment-grade knitwear buyers, the choice is: accept the cashmere approximation or pay the vicuña premium for the genuine article.