Northern California, by way of Peru, has become an unexpected hub for the alpaca trade. Ashley, 30, and Erin Hayes, 28, the sisters behind Santa Barbara-based Asher Market, year-old purveyor of alpaca pillows and throws, stumbled upon the cashmere-like fiber quite by accident. Between them, they have a law degree, a psychology degree, a photography business, and fashion and culinary training. But all they really want to do is sew. “From sun up to sun down, we made floor cushions, robes, aprons,” explains Ashley, who says their grandmother, an accomplished seamstress from Kansas, taught them the craft when they were girls. They took their wares to stores like Wonder in Santa Barbara and turned their hobby into a business. Not until Erin took a trip to South America and scooped up cozy, lightweight Peruvian alpaca blankets did they find their niche. “I brought them home to sell with the things we made, but that’s all anybody wanted,” Erin laughs. Soon after, the pair was back in Peru, designing blankets in bold chevron and diamond prints, and a painterly palette of vibrant colors. They quickly added pillows to the mix. “We blend the alpaca with a little synthetic fiber to make them machine washable and reduce allergic reactions,” she says. “Plus, we design them seasonally, so once a color is gone, it’s gone for good. You’ve got to get them while they’re hot.”

By Christine Lennon

Pictured: Ashley & Erin Hayes
Photo by  Roe Anne White Photography

Email This To A Friend