The short answer: choose cotton if you want an everyday jumper that works for most of the year and is easy to look after. Choose alpaca if you feel the cold and want proper warmth without the bulk. Plenty of people end up with one of each, and by the end of this you'll know which to buy first.
If you've ever looked at two jumpers that seem similar, one cotton and one alpaca, and wondered what the difference really is, this one's for you. Both are natural fibres, both can be lovely to wear, and neither is simply "better". They just do different jobs.
We offer both, so we get asked this a lot. Here's the plain version, with no sales spin.
Alpaca vs Cotton Knitwear at a Glance
| Cotton | Alpaca | |
|---|---|---|
| Warmth | Medium-weight, comfortable across the seasons | Warmer, suited to the coldest months |
| Breathability | Very breathable | Tends to breathe well, but holds more heat |
| Feel | Soft and smooth | Soft with a silky drape, depending on how fine the fibre is |
| Pilling | Our Fisherwoman's Jumper is naturally resistant to pilling | Depends on the yarn, as soft animal fibres can pill a little where they rub |
| Care | Delicate wash at 30 degrees or less, dry flat | Gentle wash, dry flat, check each product page |
| Made by | Machine made | Hand knitted by a women's cooperative in Peru |
| Best for | Everyday wear and layering, spring to autumn and mild winter days | Cold days, long walks outdoors, winter layering |
The rest of this goes through each row, so you can see why.
What's the Actual Difference Between Alpaca and Cotton?
Cotton is a plant fibre, grown from the cotton plant. Alpaca is an animal fibre, shorn from alpacas, which are raised in the Andes. That one fact explains most of what follows. Plant fibres tend to be cool, light and easy to wash, while animal fibres tend to be warmer, with a softer drape, and need a gentler hand in the wash.
You'll find both in our knitwear collection. The Fisherwoman's Jumper comes in cotton, and alpaca versions of it, along with the Fisherwoman's Vest, are there too. There's one more difference worth knowing: our cotton pieces are machine made, while our alpaca pieces are hand knitted by a women's cooperative in Peru.
Which Is Warmer, Alpaca or Cotton?
Alpaca. Weight for weight, it holds in more warmth than cotton, which is why it's the fibre people reach for when the temperature really drops.
That doesn't make cotton cold. The Fisherwoman's Jumper is medium-weight and gives you just the right amount of warmth to carry you through the seasons. Think of cotton as the jumper you wear for most of the year, and alpaca as the one you reach for in the coldest weeks.
One honest caveat on cotton: it tends to hold onto moisture. If you're likely to get caught in the rain on a long walk, it won't keep you as warm as an animal fibre once it's damp.
Which Is More Breathable?
Cotton, usually. It's very breathable, which is why a cotton jumper is comfortable indoors, on the train, or on a mild day without making you overheat.
Alpaca is a natural fibre too and tends to breathe well for something so warm, but because it holds more heat, it's easier to get too hot in it in a warm room. If your day swings between cold outdoors and heated indoors, cotton is the more forgiving choice. So is an alpaca piece you can slip off easily, like a vest over a shirt.
Which Feels Softer, and Which Is Less Itchy?
Both are soft, just in different ways. Our cotton Fisherwoman's Jumper is knitted in buttery-soft cotton, a smooth, even softness. Alpaca has a silkier feel and a lovely drape.
If you find sheep's wool itchy, alpaca is worth a try. It contains no lanolin, the natural wax in sheep's wool that some people react to, and it tends to feel less scratchy than coarser wool. How soft any alpaca feels does depend on how fine the fibre is, so it's worth reading reviews or feeling a piece before you decide.
How Do Alpaca and Cotton Knitwear Age?
Pilling is the thing most people really want to know about. The Fisherwoman's Jumper is 100% cotton and naturally resistant to pilling, so it keeps its smooth surface for longer. Alpaca is a soft animal fibre, and soft fibres can develop a few small pills where they rub, under the arms or where a bag strap sits, though how much depends on the yarn. A gentle wash routine keeps it looking fresh, and a fabric comb will deal with any stray pills.
Shape is the other worry. Any knitwear can stretch if it's hung up wet or dried with heat, whatever it's made from, so with both fibres the rule is the same: dry flat.
Which Is Easier to Look After?
Cotton wins on ease. The care guide for our cotton Fisherwoman's Jumper is simple: wash it separately, on a delicate machine cycle or by hand at no more than 30 degrees, use a non-enzyme, non-biological detergent, and don't tumble dry.
Alpaca generally asks for a little more care: gentle washing, no wringing, and drying flat. Each piece has its own care guide on its product page, so check that when you buy. It isn't hard, and it's the kind of care that makes any jumper last.
So Which One Should You Choose?
Here's the decision in plain terms.
Choose cotton if...
You want one jumper to wear for most of the year, from spring evenings through to a mild winter, layered up when it's cold.
You run warm, or spend your day moving between indoors and out.
You want the simplest care routine.
You like a smooth, soft finish that stays that way.
You'd like to start with one of our most loved staples, the Fisherwoman's Jumper.
Choose alpaca if...
You feel the cold and want serious warmth without a bulky jumper.
You like a softer drape and a more luxurious feel.
You find sheep's wool itchy but still want an animal fibre.
You'll mostly wear it outdoors, on walks or cold commutes.
You're happy to give it a bit more care in return.
You like the idea of a hand knitted piece made by a women's cooperative, and you're happy to pay more for the time that takes.
Not sure? A vest is a good halfway house. It adds warmth to your core without the commitment of full sleeves, and it slips on easily over a shirt or a dress. The Fisherwoman's Vest comes in several colours, including alpaca.
Can You Wear Both?
Yes, and it's what a lot of people do. A cotton jumper for spring, autumn and mild winter days, an alpaca piece for the deep cold, and a vest to bridge the two. Worn over dresses or with skirts, knitwear stretches an outfit across the seasons, which is really the point of buying fewer, better things.
Who Makes Them
Our cotton knitwear is machine made, and isn't made by a women's cooperative. Our alpaca knitwear is hand knitted by a women's cooperative in the Conchucos region of the Ancash highlands in Peru, working with Peruvian Traditions, where the knitters work mainly with natural fibres such as alpaca. You can read more about them in our journal and on our Our Suppliers page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is alpaca warmer than cotton?
Yes. Weight for weight, alpaca holds in more warmth than cotton, so it's the better choice for the coldest weather. Cotton is medium-weight and works well across most of the year.
Is alpaca itchy?
Usually less than coarse sheep's wool. Alpaca contains no lanolin, which some people react to in wool, but how soft it feels depends on how fine the fibre is.
Does cotton knitwear pill?
It can, depending on the yarn, but not all cotton does. Our Fisherwoman's Jumper is 100% cotton and naturally resistant to pilling.
Can I wear a cotton jumper in winter?
Yes, as a layer. The Fisherwoman's Jumper is medium-weight, so it works on its own on mild days and under a coat or over a shirt when it's colder. For the deepest cold, alpaca is warmer.
How do I wash cotton and alpaca knitwear?
Both do best with gentle washing and flat drying. For our cotton Fisherwoman's Jumper, wash separately on a delicate machine cycle or by hand at no more than 30 degrees, use a non-enzyme, non-biological detergent, and don't tumble dry. Check each product page for the care guide for that piece.
Which is better for layering, alpaca or cotton?
Cotton is easier to layer because it's breathable and medium-weight, so it won't overheat you indoors. Alpaca works best as your warm outer knit on cold days, and a vest is a good middle ground.
Why is alpaca knitwear more expensive than cotton?
Alpaca pieces are hand knitted over many hours by women who are paid for their time, and the fibre itself is usually more expensive than cotton. Our cotton pieces are machine made, which is faster, so they can be priced lower.
Browse the knitwear collection to see both fibres side by side, and pick the one that suits the way you actually live.