FRANK W. MICHELL
In 1922, a young lieutenant of the British Royal Air Force, Frank W. Michell, landed in Peru with the intention of exploring the mysterious Andes. In his quest, he uncovered invaluable secrets, but one in particular captured his heart: the herds of majestic Alpacas roaming the mountains, and the skilled weavers who spun their fibre with unmatched elegance.
![[059603]](https://solalpaca.bo/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/059603.jpg "[059603]")
His profound love for Peru led him to dedicate his life to the Alpaca and the impressive textile tradition of the local artisans. In 1931, he founded Michell & Co., a company dedicated to the grading, commercialisation, and export of Alpaca fibre, and in 1947, he established the country’s first combing and spinning mill, laying the foundations of the global Alpaca industry—an influence that endures to this day.
Moreover, Frank W. Michell became the first textile entrepreneur to challenge foreign spinning mills, empowering Peru to deliver products of the highest quality. Thus began the journey of a pioneer who ignited the Alpaca industry and shared with the world the most exquisite textiles, imbued with unmatched ancestral wisdom.
In 1987, his passing marked a pivotal moment in the textile history of Peru, but his legacy lives on, inspiring every step of this exciting journey. A hundred years later, the passion for Alpaca fibre is more alive than ever!