In their native Andes, alpacas provide much more than just fiber - they are an important source of meat, leather, and more.  Here in the United States, more and more farmers are seeking to use the whole animal, and a beautiful case in point is this olive green alpaca leather purse donated by Akuna Matada Suri Alpacas.  

Measuring 5" high by 9" long and decorated with a leather flower, this clutch is the perfect size to use for a night out on the town or as an everyday accessory.  There is a large interior pocket with a smaller pocket under the magnetic clasp.

Truly a one of a kind piece created by Deb Christner of Akuna Matada Suri Alpacas - see more of her leather artistry here: https://www.akunamatadasurialpacas.com

Suri alpacas are a rare breed indeed - fewer than 10% of the world's alpaca are suri. The Suri alpaca is a member of the camelid family, which includes the llama, Huacaya alpaca, the wild vicuna and guanaco, and yes, the camel. The Suri dates back between 5 to 20 thousand years and is known from archaeological records to have been domesticated for at least 6,000 years.

Among the people of the Andes, the woven fabric from the fleece of the alpaca was so soft and alluring that it was used as currency. The Suri alpaca has unique fiber characteristics that distinguish the Suri from the rest of the camelid family. Unlike the soft fuzzy look of the Huacaya alpaca, the Suri's long, separate, distinctive locks are comprised of twisted or flat fibers that drape down the sides of the Suri's body. The Suri's fiber has a cool, slick hand: soft as cashmere, warmer than wool, with the luster of silk.