Minka, Peru

Meet our jute homewear and accessories producers!

For many indigenous people living high up in the Andes, their entire livelihood is most likely dependent on wool from your alpacas. However, their remote location makes frequent trips to the city to do business impossible, leaving them dependent on opportunistic middlemen who constantly bargain down prices, paying as little a dollar a sweater.

A Minka producer spinning alpaca yarn

Brown and white alpacas

Minka provides a trade network for the indigenous people through which they can access the international market where they can get a better price and bypass the middlemen. Today Minka works with more than 9000 producers across rural Peru, whose salaries have increased almost six fold since Minka became involved in their work.

The government used to overlook the indigenous people, who were known as 'the invisible people'. Now they have a voice, their interests are represented in local affairs and they are finding innovative ways to revive their local economy.

Pedro Surco, a local activist from the Unocollo community said:

"We had nothing, but Fair Trade helped us to organize ourselves and find solutions to our problems together. We have developed a strong community group ... We are able to take control of our destiny."

Not only does People Tree's Minka knitwear help these Andean people, it also sustains around 1,000 endangered, coloured alpacas. The commercial market favors white wool, which is easier to dye, so the coloured alpaca until recently faced two fates: being illegally exported as pets, or being barbequed!

People Tree's fabulously soft and luxurious alpaca pieces are essentials for every winter wardrobe. By purchasing them you are supporting these indigenous people and keeping the coloured alpaca roaming the Sierra.

AW08 Smokey Alpaca Tank