Andean Golf Apparel, known for its signature Baby Alpaca sweaters, is under new ownership following the sudden death of owner Peter Whalen in December 2006. Peruvian-based Incalpaca TPX bought the company in April, and Director Carlos Lopez De Castilla hopes to bring some innovation to the brand going forward.

“We need to reorganize the internal operation of the company and find a better orientation for the brand,” says Lopez De Castilla, whose company will launch its first line – a more limited product offering – for spring 2008. A bigger, more comprehensive fall ‘08 collection will be presented at the PGA Merchandise Show in January in Orlando, Fla.

“We’re upgrading the product, the quality and the diversity of the line and offering a wider selection for women,” Lopez De Castilla says. The new line will offer the same Baby Alpaca sweaters for which Andean has become known, as well as the company’s popular selection of pima cotton shirts and sweaters. New elements will include Vicuna and Royal Alpaca fabrications, which Lopez De Castilla says are among the finest in the world and should catapult Andean to the level of some of the industry’s finest brands.

The line is currently in about 200 golf shops, a number Lopez De Castilla says he hopes to triple in the “short-term.”