About Us

Perilla is home to a magnificent range of the finest quality British alpaca socks - the ultimate treat for feet.

This site was born after looking for really luxurious bed socks for my daughter one Christmas and not being able to find anything suitable. A chance meeting with Hilary Shenton, a leading alpaca breeder, steered me in the direction of the fabulous alpaca socks you'll find on these pages.

From the ancient royal Incas to modern day lovers of luxury the alpaca's exquisitely soft fleece has always been highly valued. Our socks take these wonderful properties and combine them with the perfect mix of indulgent style and functional practicality.

As well as socks we have also sourced a range of the finest accessories including beautiful scarves, wraps and fantastic leather goods. Almost everything you'll find on this site is British made by some of our most talent craftsmen.

About Alpaca

I adore alpacas, that's me with Louisa, an 8 hour old baby alpaca (called a cria) - gorgeous isn't she?

My fondness for these amazing creatures stems from their gentle, sociable nature, which makes them delightful companions.

A cousin to the larger (and less friendly) llama, the alpaca is part of the New World Camelid family. Originating from the South American Andes, the alpaca's prized fleece evolved as a result of the high altitude of the animal's native environment, where they've grazed for thousands of years on the alti-plano, at 4,000 metres and above.

I believe part of the alpaca's charm is their hardiness and adaptability. They're very happy being domesticated in the UK's milder climate. Not only are they very attractive animals they're also one of the most rewarding.

Properties of Alpaca Fibre

Alpaca's unique hollow fibre is incredibly lightweight and warm. These high insulating properties are perfectly suited for outdoor clothing.

Second only to silk for strength, alpaca is comparable to the luxurious softness of cashmere yet more durable than both.

Being smoother than wool, alpaca has a very low prickle factor; if you can't wear 'itchy' wool alpaca provides a superior alternative.

Hypoallergenic qualities with no lanolin content, alpaca is ideal for babies and sensitive skins.

Natural, breathable, antibacterial fibre means you can wear a pair of socks for weeks (should you feel the need!) and they remain odourless and soft. Embrace the arrival of long-life socks!

The fleece has an attractive lustre that's available in 22 recognised natural colours. Fibres can also be easily dyed and are colour fast.

Machine washable on a wool cycle - we recommend 30°for scarves and wraps and 40° for socks.

Sandra Morton - Perilla