Limerick woman’s brand weaves sustainable alpaca fleece into fashion

IN AN era where fast fashion dominates, one Limerick woman has taken a bold step towards revolutionising the industry by founding a luxury, sustainable alpaca wool sweater brand.

Meet Orla Daly, a visionary entrepreneur who is reshaping the fashion landscape with her commitment to ethical practices and timeless style, through her label CAYO.

In 2021, and in a world hungry for eco-conscious alternatives, she wove together innovation, quality, and a passion for sustainability, creating a brand that sets a new standard for conscious consumers seeking both comfort, luxury and conscience.

Strolling through the picturesque Adare Town Park, Limerick native, Orla discusses her brand CAYO with The Limerick Leader. In the splendid sunshine she congratulates a nearby bride on her big day.

Residing in Crecora and striving to keep her business as local as possible, Orla says that anything she can't do herself she contracts others to help her achieve her goals.

“My photographer, my videographer, my models, I try to keep them all Limerick,” she proudly states.

While the alpaca wool itself is not local, originating from the Andes and processed in Peru before being knitted into sweaters in Italy, Orla insists on maintaining local connections wherever possible.

“That's only because I couldn't do it here,” she says, referring to the challenge of finding suitable knitters in Ireland who could handle the unique qualities of the soft alpaca wool.

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Orla's fascination with alpacas began during her travels in Peru, where she questioned why such a sustainable material was not widely used in the fashion industry. “I just thought, why is nobody doing this at home?” she smiled.

With a background in fashion that dates back to her teenage years, Orla's passion for design and sustainability has been a constant driving force throughout her life.

First interested in the art while studying for her Junior Cert, Orla asked her parents for a sewing machine to begin designing a dress for a school ball. From there, her ethical mind took over as she entered what is now known as the Junk Kouture competition making a gown from fishing line, oyster and mussel shells harvested from the beach.

Armed with a strong foundation in marketing, Orla has meticulously crafted and executed a unique business model, largely on her own, with the added responsibility of caring for her newborn baby.

In today's environmentally-conscious world, Orla acknowledges the prevalence of “greenwashing” by many companies. “Some companies think if they turn off the lights at night they're now eco-friendly,” she exclaimed. Firmly believing that true sustainability comes from genuine intentions and informed decision-making, Orla and CAYO embrace the concept of slow-fashion. With an important mantra always in her mind, “if you're being genuine and making your decisions from a genuine place, only good energy will come from it,” Orla truly believes CAYO will succeed.

“When doing some market research it was shocking to see that new clothes actually contain 70% or more plastic,” she states, “and there are different types of plastic with names you might not even recognize to be plastic,” she says.

Concerned by this reality, Orla has taken steps to ensure that CAYO's labels, swing tags, and boxes are all made with recyclable materials. She also emphasises the wool's sustainability, “more so than farming other animals who yield luxury yarns such as Mohair rabbits, Angora or Cashmere goats.”

Alpaca wool, while unorthodox in use, is actually “more sustainable to farm,” adds the businesswoman, as one sheer makes five to seven timeless sweaters.

Aside from the yarn, she says alpacas don't actually contribute to deforestation as they graze rather than pull grass from roots, and also have a light carbon footprint as compared to others, need less water and food to live.

Recognizing the ecological consequences of transporting yarn from Peru, Orla takes proactive measures to counterbalance the carbon emissions, by donating to the Carbon Fund.

Also, by personally visiting those involved in the supply chain, she guarantees fair treatment for the personnel. Currently stocked in The Boutique at Adare Manor, and Emporium Kalu in Naas, Orla says, “CAYO is the type of fashion you fall in love with when you feel it and try it on.”

With a collection soon to diversify, and with a firm commitment to ethics, Orla Daly is a pioneer in the pursuit of a world that prioritises sustainability.