It all started over a beer at a fund-raiser in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, near Cusco.
That afternoon, all the micro-brewery’s profits went in support of the non-profit, Threads of Peru. When I met the organization’s director of operations, Dana, a sassy young anthropologist who works with local weavers, I asked if I could volunteer. (I’d been keeping an eye out for volunteer work involving textiles and supporting women.)
You can shop our products on eBay, the ecomarket, or right on our Facebook page!
The wonderful thing about changing seasons is being able to change your look! With days becoming cooler in the North, jackets and scarves start making an appearance in our daily wardrobe.
What we love about the items purchased from the talented weavers this season is their timeless nature – they are items that you will wear year after year, because they are beautiful and long-wearing with a classic elegance. Our products are not the kind that wind up in your garage sale, as they are special items that, if cared for properly, will last a lifetime. We purchase directly from the artisan so that we know we are buying products that were slowly hand-crafted using 100% natural alpaca and wool, and so we know who we're buying from and can be sure we're practicing fair trade principals.
This season features some new styles of Women’s Ruana, a stunning wrap-around poncho, plus some great variations on our favourites: hand-woven scarves with intricate designs or elegant stripes, luxurious shawls, and some more beautiful home décor and wedding gifts.
Browse through Isaiah Brookshire’s beautiful photos for an impressive glimpse of the best of ancient and contemporary Peru.
Our items are fairly traded and hand-made by indigenous Quechua women in remote villages high in the Andes. Buying our products helps to support artisans who practice their traditional textile production methods. Many of these items feature natural dyes, while others showcase the natural colours of the alpaca – wonderfully rich hues of brown, grey, black and cream. All items are handmade using the ancient back-strap loom.
The gift-giving season is almost here and our products make unique and meaningful Christmas gifts. If you're not sure what to get your fiber-loving friends and family, a handmade, fair trade treasure from Threads of Peru will surely be cherished.
