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Driving Gloves For Men & Women, Made With New England Alpaca Fiber

Last winter, we added alpaca driving gloves to our inventory – and they were a hit!

Alpaca Driving Glove

 

When you get your mitts on these gloves, it’s easy to see why people love them. Super soft alpaca yarns were used to knit the outer shell, while the inside is lined with an acrylic material that sits snugly against your skin. Some deer skin leather stitched to the palm allows you to retain your grip while driving, shoveling, or even skiing. You won’t feel any itch like you might with other natural fibers, and these gloves offer superior warmth.

What’s the catch, you ask? No catch! These gloves really are every bit as wonderful as they sound. That’s why these alpaca driving gloves were one of our bestsellers last Christmas. Husbands and wives alike were gifted gloves because they are the perfect combination of “practical” and “luxurious”. Your loved ones all need something to protect their fingers when the frost comes, but few will splurge on a truly top-notch pair of gloves.

Still not convinced these gloves are special enough to be The Perfect Gift? What if we told you they’re locally made?

Ladies Driving Glove

These gloves come from a New England based company that collects alpaca fiber from thousands of small farms in the United States. High quality products can be commercially made (again, staying right here in the USA) and then sold back to the farms at a reduced, affordable rate.

This company provides the opportunity for smaller farms to see a product made with their fiber, which can be a pricey process for the casual alpaca farmer. For this reason, we love supporting the New England Alpaca Fiber Pool. We also love the artisan apparel being created. We’re sure you will too!

Just yesterday we received a new shipment of driving gloves. Guess what, ladies: size “small” is now back in stock!

Stop by our store to snag a pair of driving gloves before we sell out – or pop on over to our web store and claim your pair right now!

 

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Fall Fashion Time! – Embracing the Cold Weather

Well, we may not have fully transitioned into fall quite yet, but the change is certainly coming. There is a crispness to the air that was not here a week ago, and the breeze feels a little less refreshing and a little more unwelcome. While the cooler weather may have you grumbling about those too-short New England summers, there is one thing that will cheer you up: it’s fall fashion season. Sure, summer has its cute tanktops and cutoff shorts; winter yields the opportunity to show off your LL Bean boots and Patagonia vests; spring calls for a shedding of layers. But here’s the truth: fall is the best season for fashion. We’re here to give you a few of our favorite fall fashion tips and to show off some of our favorite pieces from the PacaNaturals fall collection. Continue reading Fall Fashion Time! – Embracing the Cold Weather

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Smart Women Wear Alpaca

Alpaca products are becoming increasingly popular among women who consider themselves to be smart consumers. As a society, we have become more and more focused on intelligent consumption and sustainability. Focusing on these things are important because, as our global climate shifts, many nations around the world look to the United States to spearhead a greener way of life. It is up to us to become more responsible consumers and to know that each of our purchases is a positive one. By and large, women are the consumers in our society. While women’s roles are changing and evolving and there are more women in the workforce than ever, it still seems that household matriarchs make the most purchasing decisions of any demographic in the United States. Women have recently discovered the benefits of alpaca fiber and products, and that is why smart women wear alpaca.

Think about your purchasing habits. Are you someone who makes most of the purchasing choices in your household? Are you concerned with being a smart and responsible consumer? Alpaca products are one of several ways to be this more intelligent buyer. As we’ve covered in previous blog posts, buying local is the most productive way to sustain your local economy and feel like a better consumer. Supporting your state’s businesses ensures that little money escapes the local economy and keeps jobs in your area. By shopping at PacaNaturals, you are supporting a local business with a goal of sustainability and environmental consciousness. This is reason number 1 that smart women wear alpaca.

Reason number 2 is that alpaca looks good. Not only is alpaca fiber one of the most functional fibers for durability and warmth, it is one of the most stylish fibers available. Dyed with care and spun with intention, alpaca goods are sure to make you a trendsetter among your friends. Wearing alpaca is an affordable way to improve your wardrobe and to let the world know that you are a conscious consumer who has married fashion and sustainability. Browse PacaNatuals’ online store or stop in to look at the ever-growing selection of premium alpacawear.

Third, smart women wear alpaca to stay warm. It’s mid-March and our Maine winter shows no signs of relenting. It is becoming harder to stay warm as the season drags on, and more snow is in the forecast for this week. To get themselves and their families through the harsh conditions, mothers and fathers across the state are looking to alpaca. No fiber does more to keep you warm and insulated as the nor’easters rage on. Scarves, hats, gloves, vests, sweaters, and blankets are just some of the alpaca products sure to keep you nice and toasty until April when, presumably, some milder weather will roll in.

It would be impossible to list all of the benefits of alpacawear in one place, and these three reasons are just the tip of the iceberg. However, they are the three most important. Sustainability, fashion, and warmth are the most frequently cited benefits of alpaca products for a reason. No winter gear will make you as conscious a consumer as alpaca will and none will make you look as good doing it.

Sustainability, fashion, warmth. Just three of the many reasons that smart women wear alpaca.

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20 Olympians Who Look Like They Could Use an Alpaca Scarf

It’s the most wonderful time of every fourth year. The Winter Olympics are in full swing–it is Day 10–and athletes from all over the world are making their nations proud. Some events are over, some have yet to start, but the action has been vast and there have been exciting wins and devastating upsets. Whether they’re from the good old US of A or hail from somewhere else, one thing is for sure: Most of the athletes in Sochi could use an alpaca scarf. After seeing their pink cheeks and Rudolph noses all over the news, it has become clear that some of Sochi’s athletes would benefit from a thick, warm alpaca scarf wrapped snugly around their necks for the duration of their stay in Russia. Here are the 20 athletes who look the coldest:

1. Hilary Knight, Women’s Hockey (USA). She’s been stuck in the ice rink throughout her stay in Sochi, and her ears are looking a bit red under that helmet. Knight already has a goal in these Olympics and no doubt hopes for a couple more.

2. Faye Gulini, Snowboard Cross (USA). Gulini is one of the USA’s snowboarding stars and has yet to compete. Given the late start for snowboard cross, Gulini must be awfully cold already.

3. Tora Berger, Biathlon (Norway). Already a medal winner in the women’s pursuit, Norway’s Berger will compete in the mass start on Monday and may need to warm up before she gets ready to cool down again in competition.

4. Anders Johnson, Ski Jumping (USA). Johnson has competed in several events thus far and has spent quite a lot of time in the mountains of Sochi. He probably needs a scarf.

5. Sage Kotsenburg, Snowboarder (USA). So Sage is already done. He took home the Gold in Slopestyle and headed to New York the day after to make the interview rounds. I mostly put him on here because he’s adorable. But he definitely could have benefited from some extra warmth in Sochi.

6. Ariane Lavigne, Snowboarder (Canada). Lavigne, like her fellow snowboarders, has spent most of her time in Russia on the mountain and she has looked especially cold in pictures. Somebody get her some alpaca wear!

7. Jessica Smith, Speed Skating (USA). Smith hopes to recover after a nasty fall in the preliminaries, but her status as one of the USA’s favorites makes a comeback extremely probable. She may have some ice still stuck to her after the tumble, though, and might want to invest in some warmth.

8. Jonathan Quick, Men’s Hockey (USA). The USA’s goaltender, Quick is coming off of a fiery preliminary round against Russia, won by our boys in a long shootout. He’s been spending a lot of time in that chilly ice rink climate…Just saying…

9. Niels Kerstholt, Speed Skating (Netherlands). Niels has done a lot thus far in Sochi, but is still waiting for the Short Track 500m Qualification round. He might need to warm up with a thick scarf while he waits.

10. Noelle Pikus-Pace, Skeleton (USA). Pikus-Pace ended her Olympic career with a hard-won silver medal on Valentine’s Day. After long and turbulent runs in Turin and Vancouver, Pikus-Pace really deserved this one and was just as happy with her Silver as she would have been with Gold.

11. Evan Bates, Figure Skating (USA). One of the USA’s more famous skaters, Bates spent the second weekend of the Olympics competing in both the Short and Free Dances. With all of that time spent on the rink, I’m sure he could use some extra insulation once he finishes each event.

12. Julia Mancuso, Alpine Skiing (USA). Mancuso earned a Bronze on the 10th in the Ladies’ Super Combined Slalom and competed in several other events. Now that she’s done with her events, she’s going to be even chillier and might want to invest in a big alpaca scarf for warmth.

13. Jonathan Toews, Men’s Hockey (Canada). A favorite from the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, Toews led his team to a Stanley Cup in 2013. Now, he’s leading Team Canada throughout their turn in Sochi and is hoping to leave Russia with a gold medal.

14. Kristan Bromley, Skeleton (UK). Bromley is a super foxy racer for the UK and looks super cold between each run on the skeleton sled. If he had a scarf, he could watch his competitors without distraction.

15. Torah Bright, Snowboarder (Australia). Torah Bright is pretty awesome, that’s why I wanted to include her on this list. She got a Silver in the Ladies’ Halfpipe which is excellent and she seems pretty stylish. She could probably rock an alpaca scarf or hat with a lot of flair.

16. Erika Brown, Curling (USA). While most of the USA doesn’t exactly know what curling is, I spent some time researching it and learned that it’s actually really difficult. And while Brown can burn up to 500 calories per match, all of that sweat and hard work will just make her colder once the game is all said and done. She’ll need some alpaca wear to help her out.

17. Patrick Kane, Men’s Hockey (USA). Another star of the Stanley Cup winning Chicago Blackhawks (Bruins fans like myself are still upset…), Kane is using his skills to try and upset Toews and Team Canada for a gold medal in Sochi.

18. Florence Schelling, Women’s Hockey (Switzerland). Coming off of an exciting win against Russia, Switzerland’s goalie is one of the world’s best. She is looking to lead her team to a medal and has a very good chance. Her extensive time on the ice likely makes her a bit chilly if she’s not super busy fighting off pucks, so she could use some warm gear as well.

19. Christopher Fogt, Bobsled (USA). Bogt and his teammate, Cory Butner, both look pretty chilly as they glide down these tremendous hills on their 2-man bobsleigh. They also look pretty focused. Let’s hope they can channel it into a medal!

20. Alex Harvey, Cross Country Skiing (Canada). Harvey is a cross-country skier. He had to trek really far on a pair of skis in Russia, I think it goes without saying that he could use an alpaca scarf.

So there you have it. Twenty of Sochi’s finest who could really, really use some extra insulation. And where can they find a wide selection of warm, stylish alpaca scarves? Why, at PacaNaturals of course. Do you think they have time to jaunt from Sochi to Portland and back before their next events? And if you’re spending a lot of time outside in this cool New England winter, pretending to be an Olympian as you race down your backyard hill in a toboggan, you could use a scarf, too. So come see us! And be sure to check us out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and more for weekly and monthly deals!

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5 Valentines Gifts for Him

As we established in our previous post, ‘7 Gifts for Her on Valentines Day,’ this romantic holiday is the perfect one to let your loved one know how special they are. Here at PacaNaturals, we have just the items you need (plus a few additional suggestions) to make this Valentines Day a great one. Keep reading for 5 Gifts for Him this Valentines Day.

1. A hearty breakfast. It is no secret that men like a nice big meal, so why not give him one this Valentines Day morning? Make him some fluffy pancakes and add yummy Hilltop Boilers maple syrup over the top. This will be sure to kick his V-Day off right, and you’ll get points for the effort.

2. TV seasons on DVD. What better way to show your man you love him than to buy him his favorite television series on DVD. Not only will he love having the power to watch his show whenever he wants, but he’ll love all of the bonus content that comes with most series sets. Plus, with the time he spends binge watching his series, you can catch up on all your favorite shows (without any griping) in another room!

3. Chocolate. Who doesn’t like chocolate? In addition to being a day of love, Valentines Day is also a sacred day of chocolate eating. Encourage his appetite with a delicious set of gourmet chocolates from local Portland shops.Wrong Side Tab Scarf With Border

4. A luxurious alpaca scarf. Scarves are in for men and women, and we have just the scarf your man needs to survive what’s left of winter. Come in and choose from our vast selection of premium knit alpaca scarves – you’re guaranteed to find just the one your man will want. He’ll love this gift for its style and its functionality.

5. A romantic getaway. Just as we suggested in our previous post about perfect gifts for women, men also enjoy romantic getaways. You know your man best, so make a list of the things he likes and plan a quick weekend adventure somewhere in New England. The winter scenery in the northeast is like nowhere else, enjoy it together!

There you go! We’ve provided you with 5 great gift ideas for your man this Valentines Day. Not sure about any of these suggestions? Come on down to our store and we’ll help you find something perfect for your guy. Happy Valentines Day!

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7 Gifts for Her on Valentines Day

Valentines Day is almost here! Or, as some like to call it, Singles Awareness Day. Whether you’re celebrating with your special someone or you’re simply recognizing your own awesomeness this year, PacaNaturals has the perfect items for you. In honor of this most romantic of days, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of ideal gifts for her. Read through for gift ideas and stay tuned for our next post, Valentines Day Gifts for Him!

handwarmers1. Super Comfy Hand Warmers. February is known to be one of the coldest months of the year, just remember that 36″ snow storm we got last year! That’s why these hand warmers are the perfect gift for the busy woman. Functional and stylish, these warmers will keep your hands toasty while still allowing their full use. Awesome!

2. DIY Instagram Coasters. Don’t let the ‘DIY’ of it all freak you out. These Instagram coasters are an awesome gift for anyone special to you, or to simply make for yourself! Super cheap and very easy, these coasters will get you lots of brownie points for your efforts. Go here to find out how to make your own!

3. Flowers. It may seem cheap or cliche, but it’s really not. Flowers are a wonderful way to show you care. If you put enough effort into the card, you can really hit a home run this Valentine’s Day.

4. Knitting Classes. Has your lady love expressed interest in taking up a craft? What better way to show you’ve been paying attention than to get her lessons for whatever she’s been meaning to learn about. Might we suggest that the two of you take up a partners knitting class? But before you hit your first lesson, make sure to stop by PacaNaturals for some premium alpaca yarn.

5. Personalized Phone Case. Everybody loves personalization and everybody loves their phone. Combine those two loves and get that special someone a phone, tablet, or laptop case complete with a picture of the two of you printed on the back. This will be a cherished possession for years to come.

6. A romantic getaway. It also may seem a touch cliche, but I guarantee your loved one isn’t going to be complaining when she’s being pampered at a couples spa with a glass of crisp champagne in hand. Take her someplace special and show her all tuckstitchvestthe treatment she deserves. And, if you’re celebrating Singles Awareness Day in place of St. Valentine’s, take yourself someplace great – you deserve it!

7. A Soft Alpaca Vest. Here’s something she never knew she wanted: the world’s coziest alpaca vest, made from SuriPaco’s Eastport Yarn Collection. This vest has an elegant stitch and is available in multiple colors. Grab one for your sweetheart and let her know she deserves all of life’s finer things. It’ll keep her warm on even the coldest February day.

There you have it: seven great ideas ready to be put into action for this Valentine’s Day! And stay tuned for our upcoming post, Valentines Gifts for Him. Happy Valentines Day, everyone!

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Why An Alpaca Scarf Is the Must Have of the New Year

alpacascarfAlpaca products are growing increasingly popular as people become more and more aware of these beautiful animals and the many benefits of using their fiber for apparel and other goods. As we enter the new year, it seems appropriate to tout the greatness of the alpaca scarf. So, what makes this such a “must have” for 2014? Keep reading for the reasons that we love our alpaca scarves here at PacaNaturals!

Continue reading Why An Alpaca Scarf Is the Must Have of the New Year