In the world of luxury menswear, few materials are as coveted and rare as vicuña. Sourced from the wild vicuña camelids of South America, this ultra-rare fiber is protected as stringently as patents and personal health information. Unlike other wool-producing animals, vicuñas cannot be farmed, making their fiber exceptionally scarce and valuable.
To commemorate its 25th anniversary, Peter Millar has embarked on a remarkable journey to source and craft a limited-edition collection of vicuña jackets and cardigans. This endeavor highlights the brand’s dedication to exceptional quality and craftsmanship, a tradition that has earned it a place among the world’s most prestigious luxury brands.
The Art of Sourcing Vicuña
Acquiring vicuña fiber is a meticulous and highly regulated process. The government of Peru tightly controls how fabric mills can obtain this precious material from the nation’s wild herds. The traditional method, known as the chaccu involves a human chain of hundreds of people guiding groups of vicuñas into mobile paddocks. Once corralled, the animals are carefully sheared, sometimes blindfolded to preserve their sanity, before being released back into the wild.
This process is not seasonal. “If they’re sheared too often, they can freeze to death,” explains Jason Cater, chief creative officer of Peter Millar. As a result, each adult vicuña’s hair can only be harvested once every two to three years, making the fiber incredibly rare and sought after.
A Limited-Edition Anniversary Collection
Despite the challenges and restraints, Peter Millar has successfully produced a limited-edition offering of 25 vicuña jackets priced at $6,995 and zip-up cardigans priced at $4,995. These garments are not just soft; they are exceptionally so. “If you compare it to cashmere, which is about 15.5 microns in terms of the measurement of the fiber, this is 12.5 microns,” Cater explains. “That three microns doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s a significant difference in the world of natural fibers.”
The collection is a testament to Peter Millar’s expertise in producing ultrasoft performance fabrics. Founded in 2001 just outside Raleigh, N.C., the brand started with a single cashmere sweater and quickly gained a reputation for its exceptional quality. By 2011, Peter Millar had opened its first stores in the Hamptons and Palm Beach, and by the following year, it was acquired by Richemont, joining the ranks of European fashion houses including Dunhill and Chloé, as well as watchmakers IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Vacheron Constantin.
Exceptional Sourcing and Design
The fall 2026 collection reflects Peter Millar’s commitment to exceptional sourcing. Cater points to a double-face-cashmere peacoat, knits made from a fine Italian baby cashmere he’s calling First Fleece, and a vest made from New Zealand deerskin. These materials are serious, but Cater’s designs prioritize comfort as much as elegance and sophistication.
“One of the markers of Peter Millar is softness—not just comfort, but softness,” Cater says. “I think we’re always looking for: ‘How can we make it softer, more comfortable, more casual?'” This philosophy drives the brand’s innovation, even if it means herding wild animals in the Andes to achieve the finest materials.
