Our 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..

La Imilla
Located in the high tropical valleys of Cochabamba, Bolivia, the La Imilla Knitting Cooperative is a 28+ member cooperative that works with fine knitwear made of the highest quality super fine alpaca fleece.

This internationally recognized cooperative is made of native women of the Arani region. Organized in 1979, La Imilla is an association of craftswomen created to improve the social and economic condition of rural women. Imilla is a Quechua word that means "young woman" and has been adopted as the name of the organization as a symbol of its cultural heritage and a sign of respect to the young women of Bolivia.

Since 1982, La Imilla has received training through the Panamanian Cooperatives Administration and Canadian volunteer services, and international support from the United States and England. In 1993, La Imilla received the "Quality Award" in Chicago, USA and attended the Native Women's Handicrafts meeting in Guatamala. They were also selected to represent Andean knitters at the USA Indian Museum Indian Handicraft Festival and received recognition for their high quality knitwear by industry experts in Madrid, Spain.

La Imillia hand knits the entire KUSIKUY Luxury Alpaca line. This cooperative of 18 core members more than doubles in size as additional knitters join to knit larger orders.

Spirit of the Andes, La Paz, Bolivia

PLEASE NOTE - KUSIKUY is on sabbatical while founder, Tamara Stenn, completes her doctorate (DA Leadership). Please shop our online SALE section for great savings on first quality, overstock items. Fall 2009 is NOT available online but can be found at select KUSUIKUY retailers.