New suits prove a snip at £35,000

Designer Rosie Gibson shows off the expensive fabric

A Scottish clothing company has put together the "most expensive cloth in the world" costing about £3,000-a-yard.

Peebles-based Holland and Sherry has taken five years to gather the yarn and another 18 months to develop the cloth.

The material - made from the wool of the llama-like vicuna - will be used to make 18 suits costing £35,000 each.

Holland and Sherry specialises in high quality clothing and last year began production of a tartan to be used in making a kilt priced at £5,000.

Marketing manager Ross Greenshields said: "There are other vicuna fabrics on the market, but we have woven the world's first 100% worsted spun vicuna fabric.

"It is unique, it is original, it is exclusive and it is the most expensive cloth in the world."

Choice of colours

He said the company believed it had taken the fabric to the "next level".

"If you picture feeling cashmere, and cashmere feels fantastic, this feels finer.

"Even if you're not in the business, you could tell the difference - it really is a stand-out fabric."

The material comes from the wool of the vicuna which inhabits the high alpine reaches of the Andes.

It produces only small amounts of very fine wool.

Holland and Sherry has spun its special vicuna worsted from llamas in Peru and Bolivia.

It is then brought back to the company's factory in Yorkshire.

The Scots firm has confirmed it is to make only 18 of the suits.

Customers have a choice of just three colours - black, midnight and natural.