Founded in 2015 by Fernando and Miguel, MILLMA & QAYTU are highly specialised in the artisanal manufacturing of knit alpaca garments. The two co-founders have been fascinated with alpacas since childhood. Both have family roots in agriculture in the Puno region, where alpacas are very widespread.
They are driven by the goal to improve the economic perspective of all involved in the value chain, from alpaquero to weaver. The best way they know to do this is by bringing their high-quality alpaca garments to the international market.
With a small and energetic team, Fernando has established a fully artisanal and transparent supply chain. For most of their pieces, they know exactly who was involved in production. This allows them to ensure that everyone involved gets a fair share - from alpaca shepherd to weaver.
Artisanal Manufacturing
When we visited their workshop, we were struck by the possibilities of artisanal work. Their hand-knit products appear very accurate, with only small variances in the fabric telling stories of the pairs of hands that skillfully crafted them. And it is not just the knitting that was done manually. Every step is done entirely without industrial machines!
Spinning Perhaps most impressive is the spinning. It is well known that manual spinning is a delicate work. If the spinster varies the torsion and thickness of the yarn too much over time, the final product will look uneven and bulky. Producing hundreds of metres of yarn with only minimal variance is truly a work of art - one that Feliciana, pictured to the right, has mastered through decades of practice.
Dyeing Another very impressive art that MILLMA & QAYTU have mastered is the natural dyeing process. From pistachio green to indigo blue to bright orange, the team have devised natural dyes for almost any colour, and they are able to reproduce them with surprising reliability. See Señora Marce presenting a fresh batch of grey wool, which she dyed using tara seeds from the amazon.
Radical Transparency
Through the artisanal value chain MILLMA & QAYTU have set up, they are able to provide full transparency. Their products all come with a hang tag, detailing which alpaca shepherd provided the wool, who carded, washed, spun and dyed it, and who knit the final product.
This may simply appear “nice to have”, but it has real value. By knowing every detail of their value chain, they are able to ensure everyone gets a reasonable salary. The direct exchange also provided opportunities for those involved to voice their needs and concerns, be they personal and professional.
During our visit, we could clearly see the benefits. The people they work with trust each other, and the atmosphere is very positive.
Vision for Alpaquer@s
Generally, alpaqueras (alpaca shepherds) are the most exploited link in the alpaca value chain. Despite providing the crucial raw material for expensive alpaca products, their income is terrible.
Fernando, founder of MILLMA & QAYTU, explained to us that the main issue is the long line of intermediaries. A so-called “compadre” is the first step, purchasing raw material. As payment often is made with grain, sugar and other basic goods, it is hard for alpaqueras to guage whether the payment is good or bad. It is hard to put an exact number on this, but alpaqueros often live off about 50€ per month, which is completely insufficient.
MILLMA & QAYTU pay the alpaqueros in cash, which makes for more transparent negotiations. They also pay decent prices, and help educate alpaqueras on how nutrition and other factors can improve wool quality and quantity.
But it doesn’t stop there. The ultimate vision, Fernando says, is to empower alpaqueros to add more value to their own wool. He envisions them learning how to classify the wool, spin it into yarn, and eventually even dye and knit it into finished products.
This would completely change the financial situation for alpaqueras, who today are among Peru’s poorest citizens. We are thankful for the opportunity to support MILLMA & QAYTU on this path, by offering their high-quality artisanal products to you.
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