

Each piece of our clothing and jewelry directly empowers our artisans, their families and their communities.
Our Peruvian artisans have been passing down their skills and traditions for generations. They have a strong sense of heritage and are devoted to their culture. The creations they make with their hands help support their families and raise their standard of living. Their homeland is characterized by native plants, humble houses, grazing sheep and alpaca. The live in the Andean communities of Chinchero and Willoq as well as communities on the outskirts of Lima. Many of our artisans work from home. We buy the yarn from the alpaca yarn companies and bring it to the artisans to make the orders.
The artisans are fiercely independent and deeply connected to Pachamama - Mother Earth. Many of their beliefs are surrounded by Mother Earth. They have their own special culture and beliefs; their ways are old and of a different time to ours. They are observant and profoundly influenced by nature’s ways. They weave and they knit because they always have – it is part of their everyday life, along with other activities such as taking care of their alpacas and sheep. They are gentle, genuine and beautiful.

Our first project dying silk in Chinchero

Dying yarn with cochineal - a natural dye that produces beautiful pinks and reds

Women discussing swatches for our hand knit project

Some of our knitters in Lima with me discussing a cardigan diagram

Rosa with one of the weavers (who is also an alpaca farmer) in Patacancha, which is at 15,000 ft.
Laura preparing lunch with squash grown in our garden

One of our artisans in Willoc

In Cotacachi, Ecuador when I was consulting for USAID.

Many of the artisans are great at multitasking! They might walk as much as five miles to the market carrying their baby and spinning yarn with a drop spindle at the same time!

One of our artisans from Patachancha wearing a typical Peruvian hat and woven poncho

Inez washing fleece from recently shorn alpacas

Marlani using lime as a mordant - which helps keep the color intact when using natural dyes