Bufandy is an independent label with a clear mission: craft beautiful, timeless products with respect for people and planet — mainly impossibly soft scarves.
Our collection is born from close collaboration between Peruvian alpaca farmers, Ecuadorian artisans and Dutch design. We choose premium materials and careful workmanship so every piece lasts — and feels good for both maker and wearer.
High in the Andes — where nights are cold and pasture is sparse — alpacas thrive. For centuries they’ve been kept for their exceptionally warm, soft fiber. Peru alone is home to roughly half of the world’s alpacas.
The fiber’s hollow core makes it light and insulating: warmth without weight, year-round. It’s one reason Bufandy scarves feel so soft and comfortable.
We kicked off in 2013 with no manual — no fiber bible, no weaving dogma — just curiosity.
We began with weavers in Ecuador, traced the yarn to a small spinner, then headed to Peru to meet the rest of the chain: washing, hand-sorting, and everything in between.
The loop closed high in the mountains with remote alpaca farmers. Five years on, we knew every person and step behind a Bufandy scarf — and it shows.
In the Andes, alpacas typically leave a smaller ecological footprint than many other wool-bearing livestock.
They are gentle grazers (don’t uproot pasture), live at altitudes where agriculture is limited, and require less feed per body weight. Their metabolism also leads to significantly lower methane emissions per animal compared to, say, sheep.
Bonus: the fiber’s lower grease content means less intensive washing — saving water and energy.
Bufandy began with Dorien Straathof, a tour guide who paid close attention. In the Andean highlands she fell for the craft — and the uncommon softness of alpaca fiber.
One partnership with artisan Fabian became many. We still choose long-term relationships, fair making and timeless design.
Sustainability isn’t a destination; it’s a chain of choices. We prioritise natural, responsible materials and keep improving — from sourcing to finishing — where it matters most.
We design with people and planet in mind. By listening — to makers, customers and peers — we keep choosing better materials and processes. Less impact, more value. And always: beautiful scarves.
Our blend is 80% alpaca, 20% acrylic. That small share does two things: it strengthens the yarn (useful, since we brush the fabric for extra softness) and helps reduce shedding. Net effect: your scarf looks great for longer with everyday wear.
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