Green Garden Arms of Andes: Best Mid-Layer Ever? – GWC Mag gwcmagApril 8, 2024062 views Editor’s Pick: The 100% Royal Alpaca Wool Hoodie. Words :: Feet Banks Getting straight to the point: I’ve been testing it rigorously in multiple mountain ranges for the past three weeks and the Arms of Andes Alpaca Wool Hoodie is absolutely fantastic. Native to Peru, alpacas are mountain creatures adapted to alpine climates and terrain, so it makes total sense that their wool—consisting of lightweight, smooth, semi-hollow fibres—is ideal for the kind of high-insulation, moisture-wicking protection we want in the mountains. Arms of Andes Alpaca wool Hoodie, 420 midweight full zip. it rules. check the ninja thumb holes in the sleeves to help keep everything in place. Photos: arms of andes. “We use the finest fibre of alpaca wool—18 microns instead of the standard 20,” explains Meli Hinostroza, co-founder of Arms of Andes. “It’s rarer, but we are based in Peru with direct access to a cooperative of farmers who live with their animals.” Soft enough to make the cashmere crowd take notice, and with a streamlined, pocketless fit that’s a bit longer in the torso to reduce riding up or untucking, this hoodie is soft, warm, dry, comfy, and my new go-to warm layer for skiing, hiking, boating, skateboarding (in the cool spring evenings) and pretty much anything else outside. And, as a natural fibre it doesn’t get that rancid stench that plagues synthetic (petrochemical-based) garments. Basically, this hoodie performs on all levels and in any situation I’ve thrown at it…and it turns heads at après. Alpaca live in the mountains, and so do we. LEFT PHOTO: ARMS of Andes. RIGHT Photo: Feet Banks But that’s only a small part of the story. To truly love the outdoors is to accept that it’s our job to protect it—all the mountains, forests, waterways and natural spaces we spend time in have intrinsic value beyond just being excellent places for us to play in and explore. Taking care of the natural world around us can be as simple as picking up other peoples’ garbage on a day hike, all the way up to volunteering on local restoration projects or letter campaigns to various agencies in charge of protecting wild spaces. The Alpaca Wool Hoodie is warm and vents well, whether resting atop a line (left) or ripping one. Photos: Stacey Paradine. Then there’s the bigger picture: the planet as a whole. And while it can seem impossible to reduce plastic waste or emissions on a global scale, one way anyone can make a difference is by voting with their dollars. What we buy (and continue to buy) affects what gets made, and how—especially in the traditionally problematic garment industry. (Earth.org reports that as much as 92 million tonnes of discarded garments end up in landfills each year, with significant water waste, microplastic pollution, and all kinds of other major issues.) “When you buy a product, you are buying the raw materials and processes that go into it…” As a single-origin brand (meaning material is sourced and manufactured in the same region) Arms of Andes is facing those dreadful stats head-on. “When you buy a product, you are buying the raw materials and processes that go into it,” Meli says. “When you have a garment with zippers, buttons, fabric finishing, thread, labels, packaging, transportation…those all have a supply chain. Everything comes from somewhere and is made from something. So trying to figure out what sustainability really is—it’s a hard question to answer.” Meli and her brother Rensso started Arms of Andes in 2016. Their parents grew up in Peru and their father ran a business exporting quinoa and tarragon before moving to Los Angeles in the 1980s. “My parents always saw potential here,” Meli says, “and we have learned so much from them. It was my father who first suggested we could maybe look at the alpaca. The first layer we ever made was knit kind of like how your grandma would knit. It was heavy and not what we wanted. So we started learning: how to make yarn, all the different knits—interlock, jersey. We didn’t have experience, so we had to learn a lot from the merino industry. Fabric would arrive too scratchy, or with holes in it. It was stressful. How do you make a high-quality item and keep the sustainability aspect? It was a lot of trial, error, and learning.” Peruvian alpaca garments at home near Cuzco, peru. Photo: Arms of Andes Nowadays, Arms of Andes garments (base layers, mid layers, jackets, underwear, hats, gloves and more) use 100% natural alpaca wool, natural dyes, and are processed without chemicals. Their wool comes directly from family-run farms that raise alpacas in their natural environment (the Peruvian Andes!!!) in small herds, and industrial farming methods are banned. Arms of Andes’ plastic-free packaging is compostable and the only thing preventing the products from being completely plastic-free is the (recycled) plastic tape on the backs of their YKK zippers. “No one wants to make biodegradable zippers,” Meli says. “But we found one here in Peru, nearby, and if it works our items will be 100% plastic-free. Then we can work towards being petrochemical-free—my brother has a lot more knowledge about this. He goes deep, even looking at the oil used to lubricate the sewing machines. He is looking into using pig fat to lubricate the machines instead of traditional oils. I don’t think many people—brands or consumers—even think about these kinds of details.” the mighty peruvian alpaca. photo: Arms of Andes Meli admits Arms of Andes is not poised to take over the garment industry and save the world, but she hopes they can act as an example to other brands, and especially to consumers. “Almost no one makes their own clothes anymore so we are so disconnected from the process; for many people, it’s hard to even envision. We want to show people where to start. Or what questions to even ask. Our goal is to be the most sustainable and that will never stop.” For more info or to order the best base and warm layers I’ve ever used, hit up ArmsofAndes.com You might also like: Check the ML Podcast!