Sewickley-based Inca Brands creates fashionable, functional looks made of alpaca

When Kim Brooks opened an email in 2006 asking for sock donations for troops in Iraq, she didn’t hesitate.

The request came from The Sock Brigade, a project launched by an Oregon alpaca farmer after her Army sergeant son told her his unit needed warm alpaca socks for the bitter desert nights.

Brooks, founder of Sewickley-­based Inca Brands Inc., answered the call — sending pairs of her company’s alpaca socks.

That donation sparked an idea that would grow into Warrior Alpaca Socks, a line designed specifically for soldiers facing freezing conditions in the field.

“We all need comfort,” said Brooks, 59, who offers a military discount on Warrior Alpaca Socks. “Every one of us has a bit of a warrior inside, fighting the daily grind. Whether it’s a long work shift, a full day of running errands or a leg-day workout at the gym, your feet carry you through it all. The right pair of socks can make all the difference.”

The Warrior Alpaca Socks line is one of the company’s more than 500 products made of alpaca fleece. The material is transformed into socks, scarves and sweaters, blankets, hats and gloves under the umbrella of Inca Brands.

Most products are manufactured in Los Angeles and Peru. Brooks also deals with producers in Ohio, North Carolina, New York and Minnesota, she said. She uses fleece grown by American farmers as much as possible.

Brooks designs 80% of the products, and most of the items can be worn year-round.

“Alpaca is unique,” said Brooks, who has 10 employees. “Being nonporous and naturally hypoallergenic, it doesn’t promote odor nor does it hold dander or oils.”

Versatility

It is versatile as it is warm in the winter and comfortable in the summer, Brooks said. It is also naturally flame-retardant and antimicrobial.

Sporting a pair of Warrior Socks during a recent photo shoot for the company’s fall and winter collections on a nearly 80-degree day in September was Steve Antuono of Ellwood City, a model from Docherty Agency.

“These socks are amazingly light and let my feet breathe,” Antuono said.

Alpaca doesn’t absorb water the way wool does. When it gets wet, it wicks moisture and moves perspiration and humidity away from the body, Brooks said.

Alpaca is one of the strongest luxury natural fibers, combining softness with a resilience that makes it more long-lasting than wool or cashmere, Brooks said. This structure keeps it from stretching out or matting with wear, unlike more delicate fibers such as cashmere and mohair.

Originally from Ross, Brooks, a North Hills High School graduate, became interested in alpaca when she attended an alpaca show in 1997 in Butler. She purchased four alpacas and eventually started to breed them. She did fashion shows, which led to opportunities to travel across the country and sell at events.

The alpacas were easy to care for, Brooks said. She opened a kiosk inside Ross Park Mall in 1999 to sell items, went on a trip to Peru to learn about the industry and began making her own pieces in 2000.

Her first design was a two-piece set: a boxy top and a long skirt in a sage color.

Shearing alpacas is a vital aspect of their health and well-being, Brooks said. When it comes to processing alpaca fleece, no harsh chemicals or scouring are required. Alpaca can be obtained in 22 natural shades, though the fleece can also be dyed.

There’s no place like home

Brooks had moved to the Fresno, Calif., area in 2006. She had met her now husband while in Salt Lake City for a trade show.

They married in Sun Valley in 2009.

As a way to stay connected to Western Pennsylvania, while in California, Brooks created Alpaca Golf Sweaters to honor legendary Latrobe golfer Arnold Palmer and a Mister Rogers Sweater Collection for Fred Rogers of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

The company has been headquartered in Sewickley since 2023, when Brooks and her husband, Jack Brooks, returned from California. She said her husband feels at home here, too.

“Matlock,” starring Kathy Bates, has purchased knits for production, Brooks said, and her items have also appeared in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

Brooks began her career traveling all over the U.S. with her son, Nick Kosanovich — who serves as director of marketing and e-commerce for Inca Brands — to sell products, take part in shows and learn more about the craft.

Kosanovich said watching his mom work tirelessly at building and growing her company has always been a major inspiration to him.

“The example she’s set gave me the confidence to start a business myself, and that is a testament to her,” he said. “She is an example to those around her of what is possible. If you commit yourself, work hard, care about people and strive to do good each day, you can — and she does.”

Kosanovich and photographer Maggie Holmgren were capturing images to showcase the fall and winter collections. Helping to style the models was marketing manager Lindsey Gedeon. She said she loves the luxurious feel of the fabric as she guided Docherty model Alyssa Campbell of Fox Chapel with the next look.

“The fabric is so beautiful, and I love all the colors,” Campbell said. “These scarves and sweaters are so cozy and luxurious and the feeling is high quality.”

Details: 877-870-7107 or incabrands.com