Two Australian-born alpacas and their creamy coloured fleece have proved major hits with Chinese fashionistas at Shanghai Fashion week.




Led by two male models, Qiangqiang and Lili strutted calmly down the catwalk before a thrilled crowd and a mass of photographers at the first ever showcase of Australian fashion in Shanghai.

The woolly pair were the star attractions in a parade of luxury items from the newly created Australian Alpaca Connections label.

In what was a fashion show with a twist, fine and softly coloured woollen blankets, throw rugs and quilts were draped, knotted or belted around models as skirts, tops and long trains trailed behind them.

The alpacas travelled 20 hours from a farm in China's northern Shanxi province, near Beijing, for the show, which also featured Australian fashions by Jayson Brunsdon, Alex Zabotto-Bentley's Fashionassasssin, High Tea with Mrs Woo and Ess Hoshika.

Alpaca blankets which have price tags of about $200 in Australia can sell for up to $1,000 in upmarket Chinese department stores with wealthy customer bases.

The owner of the farm where Lili and Qiangqiang have lived for the past four years, Wang Ying, is also keen to work with the Australian alpaca growers to expand his flock of 100 so he too can make fine woollen homewear and knitwear.

Adrian Stewart