SHOP BEGINNINGS

The Candalaraine Alpaca Product shop beginnings:

The Candalaraine Alpaca Product shop was opened on Fathers day 2003, with the completion of a quaint settler’s cabin on the Candalaraine Alpaca farm, showcasing some of the most elegant Alpaca pieces to be found in Australia.

While Alan and Lorraine worked tirelessly for the Australian Alpaca Association, Lorraine had become involved in some of the local Alpaca fashion parades and had the privilege of modeling the beautiful Alpaca garments so it didn't take long to discover the product to be the softest, warmest, most comfortable product that she had come across with the added bonus of elegance and sophistication.

Given the challenge of organizing several Eastern Region Alpaca fashion parades and functions came the bonus of getting to know the clever people who designed & created these sensational products.

Meanwhile at the Neerim South Alpaca farm being on the main road to Mt BawBaw snow fields since 1997, car loads of tourists continued to stop on the side of the road to look at, take photos of and talk to us about these treasured animals in the top paddock which was normally occupied by the girls and their crias. The tourists would always comment “These are beautiful animals but what do you do with the fleece”. Hence the beginnings of the Candalaraine Alpaca product shop.

With the advantage of a background in natural fibres from a very early age, Lorraine set to work designing with several of the Alpaca product creators and has along the way employed several new wonderful helpers to create the quality and elegance the Candalaraine Alpaca product shop has now become known for. The most exquisite very fine machine knitting, gorgeous felted Alpaca hats, and wonderful exotic creations of Nuno felted ponchos and jackets are just some of the range of product that entertain and are purchased by the many passer buyers many by word of mouth travelling long distances.

The “Candalaraine” label was launched last year with the creation of several exquisite new and unusual Alpaca products including sensational woven baby Alpaca jackets and extremely lacy feminine items that have just taken off and are now supplying some of the Melbourne most unique shops.

We have only just started in our journey and are in the process of organizing and designing a number of new and exciting products and we look forward to everyone having the opportunity of owning a piece of this magnificent product.