In the landscape of the Peruvian Highlands, our Peruvian jackets and hats have been crafted by a small fair trade cooperative of weavers. Using pure alpaca wool, each piece is detailed with exquisite embroidery and historical motifs representative of a particular community. The communities form part of an NGO called the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco (CTTC) established in 1996 by Andean weavers and their supporters.
The mission of the Center is to aid in the survival of Cusqueñan textile traditions and to provide support to the indigenous people who create them. Working with ten weaving communities in the Cusco region of Peru on a fair-trade basis helps rescue tradition and promote the weavers and
their skills.
Through community organisation, workshops, educational
opportunities and more, the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco ensures that there is a future for Cusqueñan textile traditions. Alpaca itself is renewable, and sustainable. Peru is home to 80% of the world’s alpaca population (almost 4 million animals) and the industry surrounding them is an important local business that supports more than 120,000 families.
We visited Peru and found this weaving cooperative on our first sourcing trip in 2011 and since partnering with them for more than a decade, alongside sharing traditional Peruvian wares with our audience, we have collaborated with these artisans to design and create our own knitted alpaca wool sweaters.
