Our Story
Allen Paca started with a sweater bought halfway around the world, and a question that wouldn't let go: why doesn't more clothing feel this honest?
How it started
Our founder, Robby Kedra, was traveling through South America when he found an alpaca sweater at a small artisan market — the kind of piece woven by people who'd been working the fiber for generations. He'd always been drawn to fashion and to the environment in equal measure, and standing in that market, the two finally lined up: a fiber this soft, this durable, and this naturally sustainable barely existed on shelves back home.
He spent years researching alpaca fiber, testing product, and building relationships with fair-trade artisans in Peru before Allen Paca became a real company. It launched as a small, West Chester, Pennsylvania-based knitwear brand with one goal: bring alpaca wool — once reserved for Incan royalty — to people who wanted quality that actually lasts.
Why alpaca
Alpaca fiber grows in more than twenty natural shades, from cream to charcoal, which means a lot of our pieces need no dye at all. The animals themselves graze lightly on the Andean highlands, so the farms behind our fiber don't rely on the harsh chemicals conventional wool production often does.
It also just performs better. Alpaca contains no lanolin, so it's naturally hypoallergenic — people who can't wear sheep's wool are often surprised they can wear alpaca comfortably. And because the fiber has hollow air pockets, it insulates without the weight, staying warm in a way that's roughly three times lighter than sheep's wool.
Every purchase also supports an ancient trade: alpaca farming and weaving has been part of Peruvian culture for centuries, and it's still how many families in the Andes make their living today.
Meet Allen Paca
Allen Paca has been more than just a name since the very beginning. Robby always pictured him as a proper mascot — a real character with a personality, in the tradition of the classic brand mascots that used to give a company a face people actually remembered.
For years, that's all Allen Paca was: an idea, and a name on a label — alpacas were once companions to Incan royalty, and Allen Paca had a nice ring to it. Then, in 2026, that idea finally came full circle. Allen Paca became something you can actually hold: a needle-felted plush character made from genuine alpaca wool, sold as a bag charm in our Bag Charms collection, the first time he's been physically real, not just a name.
He's not done making appearances, either. Allen Paca is also becoming the star of a children's book, so if you've met him as a bag charm, expect to see more of his story soon.
Rooted in West Chester, Pennsylvania
Allen Paca is based in West Chester, where you'll still find us at pop-up markets around town throughout the year — see our current Pop-Up Schedule for where to find us next.
Recognition along the way
We're a small brand, so it's meant a lot to see this story picked up beyond West Chester. Allen Paca Knitwear was named a Best of Philly® 2025 winner in the Socks and Hats category by Philadelphia Magazine, and Robby was recognized as a 2025 NextGen Superstar by VISTA Today for building the brand alongside his day job as a Certified Financial Planner. Our Eco-Alpaca Quarter-Zip was also featured on PHL17's Positively Philly segment. You can read more on our Press & Recognition page.