Perilla 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 our site. 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. 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.