Fair trade

Fair trade is a market model that intents to pay higher prices to producers in developing countries and promote the social and environmental sustainability in those areas. Th fair trade model has been increasing as a popular social movement in the trade between developing countries and developed countries. It is usual to find that certain goods from the developing countries such as coffee, cocoa, sugar or handicrafts are bought by developed countries under a fair trade model.

According to Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International - FLO (2009), fair trade products account for 1 - 20% of all sales in their product categories in Europe and North America, and in 2008, fair trade sales reached US$4.8 billion worldwide.

In countries such Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Rwanda, or South Africa, fair trade is getting more importance since producers are able to improve their process being more eco friendly while, at the same time, receive a proportional gain from the products.

To learn more about how fair trade impact in other countries, click on the following link:
http://www.fairtrademonth.org/

Are you willing to pay more for fair trade product?, what about handmade textiles made of organic fiber?, how much would you pay for it? - These are some of the questions that are now filling people's mind. What do you think?

Carla

Trade fair clothing

Fortunately, every day there are more people thinking about sharing profits proportionally to all the people involved in the production chain.

Find out what Bono, U2 singer, is doing as far as fair trade concerns...

http://www.organic-fair-trade.com/fair-trade-clothing.html

Carla

Fair Trade in the Andean communities

Some years ago, I had the opportunity to work in a poor Andean community in the limit between Peru and Ecuador, Ayabaca. Ayabaca is a nice town where there was neither drinking water nor telephone service, and it had light only per hours. The communities in Ayabaca suffered the terrorism’s blows, the war with our neighbouring country, Ecuador, and the constant war against the drug dealers.

As I finished my stage in Ayabaca, and I had identified synergy opportunities among different actors from the communities, I decided to continue working with them as a voluntary and lead the integration of several communities’ activities in a unique project which resulted in the implementation of a factory that is capable to supply the regional demand. Thus, I help those Andean communities to live better lives by achieving a sustainable development based on their activities.

There are more Andean communities that need our help, and need people to work with them under a fair trade model. I am planning to start my business in order to support those Andean communities, selling the eco-friendly textils they make under a fair trade model. Textiles made of alphaca fiber and natural dyes.

To know more about fair trade and how to get involved, please click on the following link:

http://www.fairtradefederation.org/

Let me know what do you think!
Thanks!
Carla

Natural dyes in organic fiber...the perfect combination!

Some days ago, we discussed about the Alphaca fiber, a natural and wonderful fiber that can be used for any person, including those who suffers from asthma and allergies. Today, I want to talk about the perfect complement of the Alphaca fiber, the natural dyes.

The Andean civilization of South America used to dye their clothes with natural dyes, extracted from some specific plants. Nowadays, we can still see some Andean communities that prepare their clothes with natural dyes, such as the community "Chincheros" in Cusco.


Some of the advantages of the natural dyes are to be less toxic than any other synthetic dye; in fact, many natural dyes plant are eligible to eat as food or as medicine, such as the red onion. For those who understand the necessity of taking care of the natural environment, the natural dyes are renewable sources, so you don't need to kill the earth to have a nice jacket!; moreover, as they are biodegradable, natural dyes do not cause any disposal problem for the environment!. For those who need to separate by color the clothes before washing, natural dyes solve that problem!; many natural dyes do not stain the fabrics in the washing process due to their properties.

To find more information about natural dyed alphaca wool, go to
http://www.made-in-southamerica.org/search/label/Natural%20Dyed

Thanks!
Carla

Alpaca, a natural product from the Andes

The culture in a country is more than the geography and the history; as we discussed in previous articles, food is also part of the culture; however, today I want to talk about the culture as the natural resources.

Some countries have unique natural resources that the communities employ to survive in their daily life. The "ALPACA", for instance, is a domestic animal that some of the Andean countries, such as Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile, employ to produce clothes. The Alpaca fiber is used for making men and women clothes exactly as other countries employ the cotton; however, the Alpaca fiber is still relatively unknown.

The alpaca fiber is stronger than the wool, however it is more lighter; and it is finner than the cashmere, and warmer than the sheep's wool. On the other hand, due to its characteristics (no prickly and no lanolin), Alpaca fiber is hypoallergenic.

Even more important, Alpaca is more environmentally friendly than traditional wools:

• Alpaca prefer to eat only plant leaves and not plant stems, therefore, the plants don't need composting that enrich pastures.
• Alpaca don't need to be laid down to reap their fiber, and its fiver grows every year, so it is a renewable resource.
• Alpaca fiber comes in 22 different natural color, so you don't need toxic dyes for processing the fiber and add colors.
• As Alpaca fiber does not contain lanolin, Alpaca fiber clothes don't require toxic chemicals to process the alpaca fiber and cleaning the clothes.

To find more information about alpacas, click here: http://www.alpacainfo.com/about/index.asp

Carla

The food, the culture

A great way to understand people through their culture is the food. The Peruvian cuisine is among the best cuisines in the world; according to The Economist "Peru can lay claim to one of the world's dozen or so great cuisines" (Jannuary 2004).

The incomparable "ceviche" makes people who taste for the first time in their life the Peruvian food, fall in love of this country. No matter where are you, you will find wonderful dishes made of unique and authentic Peruvian food, such as the Golden potato, the "quinoa", or the "lucuma". You can enjoy delicious fish based dishes in the coast, potatoes based dishes in the mountain, or vegetable and fruits based dishes in the rainforest.

If you haven't taste it, this is time for you to do it!. Find more about this unique food in the following link:

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1924061,00.html

Carla

"Peru, live the legend"

"Peru, live the legend" is the selling line that PromPerú (Commission for the Promotion of Peru) has been using for advertising such amazing country in the world. If you want to feel the Peruvian culture passion, click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E70Mky0z7Qc

Carla

Mochica culture

The Mochica culture or the Moche civilization was located in the north of Peru, from 100AD to 800 AD approximately. This culture is especially important due to its majestic ceramics, irrigation system, its historic buildings, and other others.

The most important archeological discovery has been "El Señor de Sipan" (The lord of Sipan), which is a mummy found in Huaca Rajada with all the ornaments and vestments of the Moche Culture. However, there are other important archeological centers found from the Moche culture, such as "Huaca del Sol" and "Huaca de la luna".

In the walls of "Huaca de la luna" you can see a sequence of ritual events that were painted by the Andeans to manifest the combats and sacrifice ceremonies of the culture.

To find out more information about this amazing culture, click on the next link:

http://archaeology.about.com/od/mocheculture/qt/warrior_narrati.htm

Carla

Cusco

Cusco or Qosqo (in Kechua language) means "navel of the world" is one of the oldest cities in South America (5000 b.C). The fusion of cultures is very obvious in this city because in the same building you can find the Spain and the Andean heritage showing their essence, such as "El templo de Koricancha" ("The church of Koricancha"), in which "El convento de Santo Doming" was build over.

In the highest zone of the city you cna find "El Barrio de Artesanos de San Blas" (" The district of Artisans of San Blas"), where you can find one of the most valuable heritage of the colonial architecture.

In cusco you will find also one of "the Seven Wonders of the World", Machu Picchu, where you can feel the essence of the Andean culture while revitalize your mind. Machu Picchu is popular by its bird shape and big rocks ubicated in the top of a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru (7000 feet above sea level). Machu Picchu was build by the Incas around AD 1430, in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. It was abandoned a hundrer years later, during the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire; however, as the Spanish conquest never found it, Machu Picchu is now considered a "sacred place". Machu Picchu is a World Heritage Site declared by the UNESCO in 1983.

To find more information about Cusco and Machu Picchu, click on the next link:
www.peru-machu-picchu.com/index.php


Carla

Are you interested on living the andean culture?

Peru is one of the most amazing countries in the wold to feel the Andean passion. Whoever visits the "Comunidad Infierno" in Madre de Dios, "Comunidad Uros" in Puno, or "Comunidad Maras" in Cusco will feel the essence of the Andes through autoctoned activities reflected in the crafts, textil and fabrics of the communities.

In this blog you will be able to follow me through different Andean communities to feel their passion.

Thank you for following me!
Carla