Baby Alpaca Dog Sweater — Hand-knit in Peru | Colette et Gastón
Baby alpaca is not a marketing term.
It is a specific thing — the first shearing of the alpaca, producing the finest, softest fibre the animal will ever yield. Its micron count sits below cashmere. It does not pill. It does not degrade with washing. It softens with every wear.
It also comes from a specific place.
Why Huancayo
The alpaca of the Peruvian central highlands — raised at altitude, in conditions that cannot be replicated elsewhere — produce a fibre of a quality the global market has consistently underestimated.
Huancayo sits at 3,271 metres above sea level. The altitude, the climate, and centuries of careful breeding have produced an animal whose fleece is, objectively, the finest available for knitwear.
This is where every Colette et Gastón sweater begins.
Not in a factory. Not in a sourcing catalogue.
In the hands of female artisans who have worked with this fibre for generations — who learned from their mothers, who learned from theirs.
What hand-knit means
A hand-knit piece is not a machine-knit piece with a different label.
The tension varies in ways a machine cannot replicate. The density and drape that result are a direct consequence of thousands of small decisions made by a person over several days of work.
It also fits differently.
A dog's body is not a standard shape. A baby alpaca sweater hand-knit with a specific breed in mind moves with the dog — it does not sit on top of him.
The fibres we use
Every Colette et Gastón knitwear piece is made from one of two fibres:
Baby alpaca blend — the warmest, softest option. Naturally hypoallergenic. No lanolin. Softens with every wash. The choice for colder climates and dogs who wear their coat close to the skin.
GOTS-certified organic cotton — lighter and breathable. For dogs with particularly sensitive skin, or for transitional seasons. Grown and certified to the highest organic standard available.
Both are Alpaca Mark certified where applicable. All dyes are azo-free.
The collection
La Tresse — cable knit, baby alpaca blend and organic cotton. From €180.
Nuance — clean stitch, baby alpaca. From €180.
Dots — textured pattern, baby alpaca blend and organic cotton. From €180.
Braids — cable knit variation, baby alpaca blend and organic cotton. From €180.
Every piece made in limited batches. Every season numbered.
Shop baby alpaca dog sweaters →
Further reading
Baby alpaca vs cashmere vs merino — the honest comparison → The best luxury dog sweaters — and what makes them worth it → The case for baby alpaca over cashmere →