Threads of Peru Blog

Buenas tardes!

I am Meredith, the newest volunteer addition to the Threads of Peru family.  I will be volunteering for the month of March, and thrilled about the opportunity!

I will be working with Threads of Peru to better understand its customers and their feedback, as well as strategizing on how to draw more people to Threads of Peru to benefit its cause, while also gaining access to luxury-quality items. 

A photogenic alpaca on the way to Sacsayhuaman!

I was drawn to Threads of Peru because of its dedication to alleviating poverty and preserving cultural traditions by way of social enterprise.  Having worked for numerous start-ups and small companies, I am extremely enthusiastic about entrepreneurship and its ability to solve some of the world’s toughest problems – just what Threads of Peru is doing.

My hometown is Glen Cove, New York, a stone’s throw from New York City.  In May of 2013 I attained a BA in Economics from Siena College in Albany, New York.

Though I have studied at the London School of Economics and traveled throughout Europe, as well as made a trip to South Africa in December, this is my first time in South America.  For someone who has never been to the continent, I think that Cusco has thus far been an excellent introduction to South America. 

 Sunday was the last day of Carnival in Cusco, meaning mischievous children were out in full force with their water balloons and spray foam!

The Andes loom over Cusco at all times.  Music emanates from homes and restaurants.  Art-like stone streets and centuries-old architecture are reminders of the city’s ancient past.  Quechua women in traditional, vibrant attire selling artisan goods in the San Pedro market are evidence of the city’s rich cultural present.   Remaining timeless about Cusco, though, is the affability of its inhabitants.

I have received a warm welcome to Cusco thus far and anticipate an exhilarating and eye-opening experience at Threads of Peru in the weeks to come.

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As we bounce along toward the holiday season, I got to thinking about the many meanings of this time of year to families around the world. That consequently led me to think that for many, the month of December may not include the “gift-giving and merrymaking” that I grew up with. A simple Google search took me to articles about the 9 days of religious observance in Mexico (Las Posadas) and the celebrations of the winter solstice in Hong Kong, among many others. I realized anew that each festival is unique; special to that culture and to those that hold it in their hearts. I then felt compelled to share why mine is special to me.

My family celebrates Christmas in the manner that many families in the United States do, with a tree decorated with ornaments collected over years and decades, fresh baked sugar cookies on Christmas Eve and singing carols on doorsteps around our small town. But more than the traditions, what I look forward to most is the warmth of waking up on Christmas morning to spend precious time with those that I love. Always more than gifts, the small touches of our family celebration make the day memorable. 

 Far from home, the weavers have invited me into their homes and families, showing me kindness well beyond what I had ever dreamed. Shown here is Angela Milo Huallpa, an incredibly skilled and gentle woman from the community of Totora.

We’ve never been much for gifts anyway, and when exchanging them, it’s always more enjoyable to give than receive. My brothers and I are now professionals in our respective careers yet without question, we will find plump stockings hung along the fireplace that my father has lovingly filled with our favorite sweets and fun trinkets. They are small things but they mean much more. And this year, I’ll be beginning my own gift-giving tradition by sharing pieces of Peru and Threads of Peru, also small things that have a very profound meaning. 

 Young and precocious, David lives in the community of Pitukiska in the Mapacho River Valley, that TOP was introduced to through our partners at Q'ente. He will certainly be looking to holiday festivities this year!

Each day working in Cusco is an eye-opening experience of learning and growing, of better understanding the everyday reality of far too many wonderful men and women that struggle to support their families and preserve their way of life. Each purchase you make from Threads of Peru directly benefits the success of their hard work, as well as the continued practice of an ancient tradition that may otherwise be forgotten. And we assure you that any one of our 100% handwoven, organically dyed textiles will only contribute to the specialness of your holiday celebrations, as I know they will for mine! 

 Pictured from left to right - Santusa, Demesia, Francisca and Andrea - are all working mothers from the remote Andean village of Chaullacocha.

Visit our online store today - to browse our beautiful selection of 2012-2013 textiles that will work for any budget - especially now with all products being offered at 10% off! With many thanks to our friends and partners at Awamaki, the Andean Alliance for Sustainable Development and Q’ente, we have more variety than ever before, particularly if you’re looking for those small “somethings” for stocking stuffers that always make my Christmas mornings special. And even if your family will not be celebrating the same as mine, your purchase from Threads of Peru will be a gift to cherish for many years to come. 

 Only two of the beautiful knitwear pieces now in stock from our friends at Awamaki!

 The traditional and fashion forward ILLAWA bag, from fellow NGO Q'ente, was designed by Master Weaver, Andrés Sallo, from the small town of Huaran.

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As our friends and followers surely know already, this year has been especially exciting for TOP with new people, new projects and, particularly, new products! With even more on the horizon for 2014, we’re winding down toward the holidays and another rainy season here in the Sacred Valley. 

An amazing accomplishment in 2013 - beautiful new styles and color palettes for our accessory products. Soon to be available online!

And that is one of our messages from here on the ground for you all today! The Threads of Peru team will be taking our holiday break beginning Saturday, December 21st. We will be back online as of Monday, January 6th for all correspondence and to continue sharing the latest news! 

 Alejandrina Puma Churata, one of our weavers from Chaullacocha, made us feel welcome as always during our 2013 visits with her warm smile! Visit our online store to take your pick of her beautifully woven textiles.

With these important dates in mind, please keep visiting our website for your seasonal purchases! Don’t forget that in order for your TOP products to arrive before Christmas, we recommend placing orders before December 7th. 

 We may not be professional models, but our Fall 2013 photoshoot saw many familiar faces (Project Coordinator, Dana, pictured here) modeling both new and old products. Many more beautiful photographs are featured on our website!

Knowing that heavy rains are fast approaching, we will also not be accepting wholesale orders from November 30^th until March 1^st because of limited accessibility to the weaving communities. During this time every year, we frequently encounter impassable roads and dangerous driving and hiking conditions, an unfortunately consistent challenge to our work. 

 We've been drooling over our first order of Awamaki knitwear and hope that you'll find the work of our friends and fellow weaving enthusiasts as beautiful as we do. Hurry though! We have limited stock for the holiday season and products are going fast!

Thus, we encourage any and all interested customers to place their orders before November 30^th! No need to worry though if you’re hoping to continue ordering from our online retail shop during that time. All listed products are available and will be shipped within 3 business days from our Cusco office!

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