Alpaca Gift Shop Open!

The second snow has fallen in our part of New Jersey and Christmas is just around the corner. Are you going to be warm for the winter? Do you have great new ideas for gifting in the holiday season? Here is a thought for you, try something new, something home grown; something to give to your loved ones that you can say “I bought this right at the source. I hope you like it!”

We all know wool, it has been keeping us comfortable for hundreds of years but centuries before sheep were domesticated other beautiful animals provided the fiber for superior quality apparel that kept our ancestors warm and well. Alpacas, those cute cuddly Andean animals are still at the forefront of the quality apparel market. It was the realization that we are missing out on making top quality garments from alpacas that persuaded Joy and Colin Scott to start an alpaca breeding program to produce the finest fiber to make the best, most comfortable, stylish clothes. The result is Highland Airs Alpaca Ranch (HARR), home of the “HAARmony Herd.”

The Scotts were very lucky to meet up with Daryl and Frieda Goodrich at a time when they decided to retire from alpaca breeding. Their farm is a custom built jewel of an operation. It was designed and build by Daryl and Frieda provide the best quality environment for top quality alpacas and Joy and Colin are proud to continue that tradition. They felt a need to increase awareness of the value of alpaca garments and make them more readily available. Opening a shop on the farm seemed to fit well into revitalizing the concept of alpaca clothes being the best money can buy.

Of course the 20 animals that comprise the herd at present cannot produce enough fiber to cater for the increasing demand for alpaca clothing so Joy and Colin set out on a mission to find the best sources for items. They import from Peru and obtain designer one-off garments from Geneva in Switzerland. But it is not just about the top of the garment range. Alpaca fiber has such excellent characteristics, warm and soft, lower risk of allergic reactions than with wool products, hardwearing and downright attractive! The Scotts have stocked their shop with a variety of items to suit the most discerning taste at prices to accommodate all pockets. They have a variety of jackets, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves and socks. They have developed a ‘kiddies corner’ complete with teddy bears, puppets and books. The avid knitter is also catered for with yarn in delightful colors and raw fiber for the expert to experiment with.

Because alpaca fiber is so versatile Joy and Colin have developed a ready reckoner for discerning customers who are looking to enhance their enjoyment of ‘a night on the town’, a ‘cozy evening at home’, the ‘outdoors life’ and ‘comfort in the cold’. Come to the shop and hear how alpaca accessories can bring more fun to life.

We are open on the weekends from 11am-4pm everyday from December 13th thru 24th . If you can’t make it out to beautiful west Morris County, right on the banks of the Musconetcong River, visit the HAARmony Herd webpage at www.highlandairsalpaca.com. Browsing there can give you great ideas for ‘must-have’ purchases from sweaters to jewelry; don’t see what you’re looking for contact us, since everything we have hasn’t been put on the store’s website and we can always try and find that special item you’re looking for.