About Us
After some years of dreaming, planning & researching, we finally welcomed our first 11 alpacas into our lives in 2009—and they completely stole our hearts! Their elegance & the magic of their fibre-producing abilities left us truly captivated.
In those early days, full of enthusiasm and curiosity, we dove headfirst into exploring options for processing their fleece. But it wasn’t long before we found ourselves facing numerous obstacles, with little support or guidance to help us along the way. Here’s what our journey taught us
Colour and Quality Differences: None of the mills in existence in 2009 would accept our eleven fleeces due to their varying colours and quality. Fleeces needed to be in 20+kg batches of the same colour, same micron & same staple length.
Time Constraints: Fleece sheared more than 12 months prior was not deemed acceptable. Storing it until after the next shearing apparently wasn’t a viable option either.
Minimum Quantities: Most mills require a minimum quantity of 20+ kilograms of the same colour, quality & staple length which is unattainable for small herd owners.
Regrettably, these options remain unhelpful for small herd owners or crafters with only one or two fleeces. It’s a predicament many face in similar situations despite most UK alpacas being kept in small herds of less than 20.
So we set about solving the problems. We investigated the issues with machinery & available methods of processing in the UK and also looked at what the USA, Australia & Italy were offering.
In light of feedback from others & our own experiences as well as our own growing stash of beautiful fleeces, we established our mill in 2010, which caters to alpaca breeders/owners & crafters, large & small, nationally & internationally.
What sets us apart?
- East Anglia Alpaca Mill uses custom machinery which is tailored specifically to alpaca fibre to enable specialist spinning
- Our custom machinery allows for cost-effective processing priced by the kilogram with greater yeild for our customers
- Superior-quality end products – we will always produce the best quality yarn your fleeces are suited to making
- Significantly less waste – we are very thorough in the preparation of fleeces ensuring only the best fibres are within the batch – we always aim to return 100% of your spun yarn to you. Most well-skirted batches should return 95% of their clean weight
- The mill consistently produces far greater returns of quality yarns than any other mill. The mill exclusively processes alpaca fibre & does not blend* with or dye any other fibre
- We are able to process a single fleece if required subject to our minimum price point
- We will endeavour to provide the most economical batching of your fleeces (where batching has been requested)
- We offer a range of yarn weights, as well as additional products/services such as scouring only, fluff, rovings & felt
The Mill is an eco-friendly enterprise that processes in a sustainable, virtually carbon-neutral manner; EAAM offers total provenance of fleeces right through all processes. We do not use harsh, fibre & environmentally damaging chemicals & we opt for as many green aspects as possible, including rainwater harvesting, green packaging, biodegradable products & e-invoicing – the alpacas themselves are always our ethos.
As alpaca owners as well as mill owners, we have come to understand the intricacies of both alpaca ownership & fibre processing all too well & we are committed to providing exceptional customer service & ensuring that all clients receive expert advice & service from us at all times.
We are always happy to hear from customers & to assist with any queries. You can call, text, email, or use the contact form – we are always delighted to chat alpacas &/or fibre!
