PAKA®, the leading innovator in alpaca apparel, announces the launch of the Ultralight COOLPLUS® Crew, a sweater that blends natural alpaca fiber and organic cotton with COOLPLUS® yarn technology for a warm-weather performance layer. Since its founding, PAKA has led alpaca fiber innovation, developing and releasing the first patented alpaca fiber insulation, PAKAFILL®, in 2022 and the first alpaca-based fleece, PAKACLOUD, in 2023. The Ultralight COOLPLUS® marks the latest innovation from PAKA, a summer-ready garment that fuses performance-quality breathability with natural materials.
The Ultralight Crew features a blend of 50% Traceable Alpaca fiber, 30% Organic Cotton and 20% COOLPLUS® fiber. COOLPLUS® technology uses viscose fiber in a unique spinning process, creating a larger fiber surface area that allows moisture to evaporate more quickly without added chemicals or synthetics. This rapid moisture absorption and evaporation provide a cooling effect for the user, paired with the antimicrobial and low moisture benefits of natural alpaca fiber.
“The alpacas of the Andes have perfectly adapted to the massive temperature swings of a high alpine environment—ranging from freezing to scorching in a single day,” said Megan Krajco, Design Director at PAKA. “With the Ultralight COOLPLUS, we aimed to extend that adaptability by blending alpaca fiber with COOLPLUS technology for a cool, highly breathable knitwear blend. Traditionally, fabric performance has been treated as an afterthought—often achieved through topical finishes that degrade with wear and washing. With innovations like COOLPLUS, performance is engineered at the fiber level—enhancing breathability, durability, and moisture evaporation for the long term.”
Ideal for everything from trail to town, the Ultralight COOLPLUS® is available in Lilac, Lichen, and Ice Heather Grey for Women and Navy, Andean Moss, and Ice Heather Grey for Men, priced at $135 online at www.pakaapparel.com/. Each piece is accented with PAKA’s signature Inca ID, handwoven by Quechua weavers to celebrate the heritage of the company’s origins in Peru.
About PAKA:
PAKA is the leading innovator of alpaca fiber apparel. Founded in 2017, PAKA started as a vision to bring the revolutionary alpaca fiber to the outdoor industry. PAKA is a Certified B Corp and secured the Best for the WorldTM award in 2022. The brand employs 300+ Quechua weavers in Peru, makes upwards of 90% of products locally, and donates 1% of its revenue back to local communities in Peru. Learn more at www.paka.co Instagram: @paka
