THE ALPHA TOPS Group are major suppliers of specialty fibres for the textile industry, such as Alpaca, Mohair, Cashmere and Camel Hair.  The group is committed to being suppliers of global importance, combined with excellent customer service.  Decentralised offices specialise in specific fields and make available their infrastructure throughout the group, thus allowing an individual sales approach and customer service.  One of the group's greatest assets is its unique wealth of experience and connections.

The origins of ALPHA TOPS go back to 1978 when Mr. F.O.Patthey and Mr. P.G. Alvigini merged two trading companies that had been active in this field for some time into ALPHA TOPS S.A., Geneva.  They created what was soon to become the most important European Alpaca Top maker and trader and it wasn't long before this new company expanded into other fibres and sales markets.  Besides Geneva, it operates in Biella, Italy, Beijing, China and from an associated office in Prato, Italy.

In 1985, ALPHA TOPS Geneva participated in the formation of P.W. FIBRES LIMITED in England to strengthen further the position in Europe and to open up the Far Eastern market, expansion into world markets was amplified in 1991 with the foundation of ALPHA TOPS (U.K.) Ltd.  Investing in SAMIL (Pty.) Ltd. in South Africa in 1992, together with a local partner, CAPE MOHAIR HOLDINGS LIMITED, saw the latter two ventures establish the group as a major force in the mohair market. A close co-operation with INCA TOPS, in Peru cements their commitment with the Alpaca market whilst ALPHA TOPS BEIJING puts them at the forefront of raw material supplies for fibres such as Cashmere within China.

ALPHA TOPS also has close connections in Australia, and building on the many years of experience of its partner, Mr. P.G. Alvigini, it is able to offer to the trade, albeit in limited weights, the finest wool tops from that origin.

Though not directly involved so far, ALPHA TOPS collaborates closely with the International Vicuna Consortium, composed of a sister company, INCALPACA, Peru together with ALPHA`s good friends and customers, LANERIE AGNONA, and Ing. LORO PIANA, of Italy.  IVC have been the world-wide winners of the competition to process Vicuna hair under the CITIES rules.  To complete the panorama, ALPHA TOPS is also helping set up a similar group, together with the Argentinian and Italian companies , to develop processing of Guanaco hair, under the supervision of the Argentinian authorities and the CITIES rules.  Vicunas and Guanacos, wild cousins of Llamas and Alpacas, all members of the Camalidea family, were both on the list of endangered species, and the processing of the hair shorn form the live animals should be a deciding factor in the world of survival, and even multiplication. 

ALPHA TOPS also recognise the importance of international quality and testing standards for the industry.  They are founding members of the International Alpaca Association and managers of the group are actively involved in various functions in this as well as in the International Mohair Association.  The widespread activates related to natural products and close links with many other companies the world over have made ALPHA TOPS` membership of NATURES NETWORK a logical consequence.

Visit us at alphatops.com to see our global network