In this Andean nation far from glamorous runways, some of the most fashionable residents have four legs: vicunas, alpacas and llamas. Exports of the animals' fleecy coats have nearly doubled to more than US$43 million in the past four years, as models strut catwalks from Paris to New York wearing fur from the long-necked animals in the form of pricey ponchos, pants and pea coats. Fleece shorn from the three species – known collectively as camelids – is “really soft and luxurious,” said New York-based designer Rachel Comey, who says she sold about US$200,000 worth of alpaca knitwear last year, including hats, gloves and alpaca-lined boots. Vicuna is the costliest, trimmed once every two years from the rarest of the three breeds, which roams the plateaued border region between Bolivia and Peru. A meter of the fabric sells for at least US$3,000, while a basic stole starts at about US$950 at the factory store. A similar stole made of alpaca _ which is farm-raised and makes up 99 percent of camelid exports _ sells for about US$47, while llama fleece is rarely commercially sold. The warm, dyeable fibers, long used for sportswear fleece, are being recast as a more luxurious thread, spun into casual clothes and evening wear to appeal to deep-pocketed young professionals. Demand is partly driven by the fleece's popularity with environmentally conscious designers, who want the softness of fur without the guilt, said Laird Borelli, a senior features editor at Style.com. “If you have a fabric that can get as close to fur as that, it's an amazing thing,” said New-York based designer Daryl Kerrigan, who has used alpaca to make coats. AP __
