Suri alpacas are distinguished in the camelid family by their unique fiber characteristics. The fiber grows parallel to the body while hanging in long, separate, distinctive locks. Its artistic style enhances the graceful appearance of the animal compared to the soft, wooly look of huacaya alpacas. Suri fiber locks, made up of high-luster fibers, drape down the sides of the body in a twisted or flat form of various size.
Suri fiber has a slick hand and softness with an exquisite luster.
Suri fiber is in demand and consistently brings a premium price in the fiber market. Suri alpacas emanate extraordinary vigor, intelligence, ease of breeding, and adaptability to hot and cold climates. These attributes rank high on the list of many reasons for treasuring Suri alpacas. It is known from archaeological records that alpacas have been domesticated for 6,000 years. Early depictions of Suri alpacas dating from between 5 and 20 thousand years ago can only be found on the western slopes of the Andes mountains in Peru.