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About
ANATOMY
OF A SWEATER
THE ANIMALS
Small alpaca herds roam freely about the vast slopes of the Andes
Mountains. Animals graze on indigenous organic grasses just as their
ancestors have for 5,000 years. Alpacas needing access to water,
are smaller and more delicate than the llama and are more rare.
Alpaca wool is carefully hand shorn so the animals are not harmed
and the fiber is best for spinning. This wool is hand processed
and spun into the fine yarns found in all KUSIKUY knits.
THE
KNITTERS
KUSIKUY knitters are Aymara and Quechua pre-Inca descendents. They
belong to independent cooperatives and communities. Many members
live in simple adobe homes with thatched grass roofs and no electricity
or running water. Some knitters manage small organic farms caring
for llamas and sheep, and cultivating wheat, potatoes and "quinoa,"
a high protein Andean grain. Those living near the shores of Lake
Titicaca tend alpaca herds. Knitters are paid a fair wage for their
work and participate in skills workshops and personal growth opportunities.
Several knitters have traveled to the USA and Europe receiving international
recognition for the quality of their work. Earnings from knitting
go towards improving living conditions for families and strengthening
native communities.
THE
FIBER
Alpaca is a rare specialty fiber. It is stronger than mohair, finer
than cashmere, smoother than silk, warmer than goose down, and breathes
better than thermal knits. Alpaca is naturally hypoallergenic, snuggly
soft, and cozy warm. Many KUSIKUY sweaters are made from certified
superfine alpaca fleece. This is a fine micron fleece just found
at the name of the alpaca's neck and making up just 20% of all the
fiber produced by this fine animal. Royale Alpaca Silk is 80% rare
baby grade (finer than super fine) alpaca mixed with 20% silk. KUSIKUY's
EKO certified organic cotton also originates with Inca royalty.
We use only the finest long staple Pima Pakatchu cotton in all of
our knits. Hand harvested on steep mountain slopes, hand brushed,
and spun, this silky fiber is softer and longer lasting than conventional
cottons.
THE
KNITS
Together with the knitters, new lines of KUSIKUY knits are created
each year. European design has a strong influence in South America
and the latest of European fashion runway styles is seen in much
of our styling. Many KUSIKUY designs are taken from daily life in
the community, such as a border design of men and women holding
hands, dancing. Other designs were inspired by ancestral pottery
art more than 5,000 years old. Still others, like a snowflake, reflect
the imagination and whimsy of the knitters themselves. All KUSIKUY
items are handmade by the finest knitters in Bolivia and Peru.
 HISTORY
Founded in Bolivia in 1997, KUSIKUY was developed by US Peace Corps
volunteer, Tamara Stenn. Upon finishing her work with the Peace
Corps she returned to the United States to earn a Masters in Intercultural
Management from the School for International Training. Here, Tamara
learned about the fast growing Fair Trade movement. Already a strong
supporter of native technologies and organic products, KUSIKUY's
structure and philosophy fit in well with the Fair Trade community.
Inspired by fellow Fair Trade counterparts, KUSIKUY has grown from
a small home based business to become an international internet
retailer and wholesaler.
In
2004 KUSIKUY became a proud member of the Organic Trade Association
and expanded its line of hand made natural clothing to include EKO
certified organic pima cotton.
Tamara
saw a need for more support for the development of organic clothing
cooperatives. In 2001, AYLLU,
Inc. a 501c3 non profit, was created to help with grass roots
development in the Andes and the education of consumers about of
benefits of using Fair Trade and organic products. In June 2007
KUSIKUY's headquarters town, Brattleboro, Vermont, became the 2nd
Fair Trade Town in the USA. This initiatve was created and backed
by KUSIKUY and AYLLU.
KUSIKUY
Position Statement (PDF)
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