Archive for the ‘Peru’ Category

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SNOW HERE & RAIN THERE! EITHER WAY, ALPACA IS THE ANSWER

Monday, February 7th, 2011

Last month, a couple of my friends went to study Spanish in Lima. As you can imagine, I was super excited and begged them to take on a little adventure and head up to my Peace Corps community, otherwise known as the home of Mayu’s artisans. If you haven’t seen, our artisans knit one-of-a-kind, super luxurious, eco-friendly alpaca accessories that you can shop for HERE.

Needless to say, my friends jumped at the opportunity and they were especially curious because they both happened to be Mayu customers. Frieda purchased our SALE floral alpaca scarf and Antoine purchased our SALE collared alpaca capelet. Yup, they are students so the SALE items were ideal for both of them. And yes, there are still a few left of this alpaca winter wear.

I wanted to post a couple pictures of the two of them exploring our lovely (yet, rainy) Chiquian! It is tough to dry those hand-knit, Fair Trade alpaca scarves, alpaca hats and more when the rain is coming down hard. Wow, I don’t really miss that part of my 2-year Peace Corps experience. Cold, Cold, Cold. I slept under 5 alpaca blankets! Looks like Mayu’s knitters are under our hand-knit alpaca throw in this picture. The alpaca blankets are pretty dreamy and you can buy them on our site! In fact, I slept with mine last night..

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KNITTING ALPACA SCARVES & DRINKING PISCO SOUR

Friday, February 4th, 2011

As a proud (or potential proud) owner of Mayu hand knitted, 100% Peruvian alpaca accessories, you probably would like to experience more Peruvian culture and understand the inspiration behind our Fair Trade, social enterprise that supports Peruvian knitters high in the Andes Mountains – I wonder if Mayu’s artisans are knitting and drinking Pisco Sours as we speak?! Eek…They definitely know how to multi-task, so I’m not so worried.

Here is one opportunity to get a further glimpse into Peru – this week Peru celebrates its national drink, Pisco Sour. We wrote about Pisco last year (who discovered Pisco, Chile or Peru?) so check that blog post out here.

Pisco Sour is a delicious drink (most people think so) made of pisco, lemon or lime juice, egg whites, syrup and bitters. Since 2003 this drink has earned own National day – celebrated the first weekend of February! Yay, starts tomorrow. If you happen to be in Lima, don’t miss large variety of events and festivals, offered by uncountable Peruvian bars and cafes or look for your favorite Peruvian restaurant close by your house. I’m sure they will have some sort of celebration as Peruvians love to have fun! And, as it is winter, don’t forget to bring your favorite Mayu alpaca scarf with you!

Here is our Pisco Sour recipe if you feel like doing a bit of experimentation!

Necessary ingredients:
* 2 fl oz (8 parts) Pisco
* 1 fl oz (4 parts) Lime juice
* 3/4 fl oz (3 part) Simple syrup
* 1 Egg white
* 1 dash Bitters

Preparation:
Shake hard or blend with ice and strain into glass. The bitters are an aromatic garnish topping the finished drink, put on top of pisco sour foam. See also the pisco sour battle.

Serve without ice and celebrate along with Peru!

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Posted in Community Events, Food, Mostly Peruvian, Peru, Stuff Mayu Loves | No Comments »

BIDDING FAREWELL WITH ALPACA SCARVES IN TOW

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

The last couple of posts have been about Peru and our the latest going social, cultural and economic events going on in Mayu’s favorite country! If you missed the posts, check out the “PERU” category on our blog.

I’ve been a bit nostalgic for Peru over the last few days and started looking at my pictures from the Peace Corps (the reason Mayu was started) days and my recent trip down there a few months ago to work on our Fall 201o collection, which can be seen here. Some of the season’s highlights include the alpaca melange hoodie/scarf combo, fingerless alpaca gloves and alpaca flap hat.

Anyway, I just wanted to share a few pictures of the Mayu family and of the women who are knitting our eco-friendly, fair trade alpaca winter wear. Here, in both of these pictures, they had just helped me on to the bus (with about 100 lbs. of alpaca accessories and clothing sold by Mayu) and we had just said goodbye, or “adios” and until the next time! Do you notice the plastic bags they are all carrying? Yup, those are unfinished Mayu alpaca clothes and accessories…

Did I mention FREE shipping until Valentine’s Day?

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PERU IS A GROWING (WITH THE HELP OF THE US?)

Monday, January 31st, 2011

So, lets talk Economics 101 as it relates to Peru. As I’ve said, each time I return to Peru (read more about my travels on our blog) to visit Mayu’s knitters, I am amazed by the rapid growth and ever changing financial climate in Peru. Although these changes are not always as evident in the Andes Mountains where our knitters live (compared to Lima), there definitely has been an impact in the development of infrastructure and transportation.

And the US role? According to the World Bank, the US has allocated $120.4 M for Peru to promote democratic institutions, successfully convert the advantages of economic openness into broad social benefits, and expand and strengthen state control over its territory.  Nearly 70% of the aid will supplement Peru’s counter narcotics budget. Other main support sectors include economic development, good governance, primary education and environment.

Peru has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America. It experienced 8.7% growth even in 2010. Notable accomplishment is also the country’s growing middle class. At the same time, Peru is only 15th country in the region ranked by the GDP per capita, and income levels are highly unequal between Lima and rural areas of Amazon in Andes. I’m not going to get political, just throwing out the facts…

Along with foreign governments, social enterprises like Mayu help to build prosperity in disadvantaged regions of Peru. Learn more about how the creation of Mayu’s hand-knit, fair trade, ethical fashion accessories contributes to Peru’s growth here.

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INTERNATIONAL BAN OF COCA-LEAF-CHEWING

Saturday, January 29th, 2011

When I joined the Peace Corps in Peru, I arrived to live with my host family and within minutes, I’d been served a steaming hot cup of tea. The flavor? Mate de Coca — it contained fresh, green coca leaves and tasted delicious. Mate de Coca was known to ward off altitude sickness (and, as you’ve seen, Mayu’s alpaca winter wear and ladies accessories are produced high in the Andes Mountains), stave of hunger for those without the financial means to overload on food and well, many other uses…
In addition to drinking the tea, many people choose to chew the leaves and this is common in both Peru and Bolivia.

Unfortunately, the international community is hoping to ban the use of  Coca chewing, probably because they are “drugs”? Hm. A couple days ago in La Paz, Bolivia, people came together to promote the chewing of coca leaves and industrialization outside of the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia —

A UN convention, reaffirmed in 2009, imposes a blanket prohibition on drugs, including even the traditional use of coca leaves by Andean communities for chewing and tea. Bolivia asked to lift the ban – though not restriction to grow coca for cocaine, however the US raised an objection. So, Bolivians went protesting against an international ban on the traditional practice, which is integral part also of life in the town where Mayu’s artisans live.

Wow, what would it be like to not drink coca tea in the cold evenings with our artisans while they knit our fair trade, eco-friendly, alpaca accessories such as hats, scarves, throws and more? Read more about the situation here on the BBC.

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CHANGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IN PERU!

Friday, January 28th, 2011

Lots of changes happening in Peru! Here at Mayu, we love to share the latest and greatest on our blog. You can read some of the latest cultural news and current events here on our blog. As you are shopping for hand-knit, fair trade alpaca accessories made by Mayu’s Peruvian artisans, we want you to be aware of the culture behind our alpaca scarves, hats, shawls and more!

So, here is the latest on the Peruvian National Anthem:

Following decade of financial and organizational struggle, Peruvian auditor Julio César Rivera Dávalos has convinced Peru to modify lyrics of the national anthem that originally started with:

“For a long time the oppressed Peruvian
Dragged the ominous chain;
Condemned to cruel servitude
He moaned for a long time in silence.”

Mr. Dávalos invested over $100,000 personal savings, and put his business on hold to support his cause.  In two self-published books, he argued the anthem engenders “alienation, indifference, apathy, pessimism and disintegration.”

Listen to the NEW Peruvian Anthem! The new anthem takes on a much more positive note, which is representative of the current situation in Peru. BTW, have you thought about a trip to Peru? Highly recommended!

The new anthem starts with the sixth verse of the previous one:
On its summit may the Andes hold
The two-colored flag or standard,
May it announce to the centuries the struggle
That set us free forever.
Under its shadow may we live peacefully
And, as the sun is born over its peaks,
Let us renew the great oath
We rendered to the God of Jacob”.

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“THREAD RICH” – AN ARTICLE ABOUT MAYU’S ALPACA ACCESSORIES

Monday, January 24th, 2011

Recently, Mayu was written up in Quintessential New Trier, a publication in the Chicago suburbs. I decided to share the article because it tells the story of Mayu and sheds some light into what goes on behind the scenes. And, the article does talk about my life. Yes, the Mayu founder — my inspiration, my goals, ME. I’m wearing Mayu’s melange alpaca hoodie, which has been a bit hit this winter season. We are really excited about this press! Thanks to Sherry Thomas at QNT.

Read the article HERE.

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AFRO-PERUVIAN MUSIC! ARTURO “ZAMBO” CAVERO

Friday, January 7th, 2011

Mayu’s Peruvian knitters and I really enjoy music, especially Peruvian music. While I was in the Peace Corps, and during my many travels to Peru, I’ve spent hours in tiny music stores, trying to get the most out of folkloric (sometimes called musica criolla) Peruvian music…

Not only do Mayu’s artisans listen to Andean Huayno music while knitting our fair trade, one-of-a-kind, alpaca winter wear (scarves, hats, gloves, wraps) but they also listen to afro-Peruvian music. There is such great stuff out there. I recently came across this video of one of my favorite songs, “Cada Domingo a Las Doce (Every Sunday at noon), by a famous Peruvian singer, Arturo “Zambo” Cavero. The video is LIVE, which makes it even better. Good stuff, good stuff!

Check it out! Do you have a favorite folkloric music you’d like to share? It can be from anywhere. World music is our thing over here so please share, info@shopmayu.com

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For more on Peruvian culture, hand-knit alpaca accessories, Fair Trade and more, check out the “Peru” category on Mayu’s blog!

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THE GRANDMOTHER & THE FATHER OF MAYU WINTER ACCESSORIES

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

I’ve talked a lot about the inspiration behind Mayu and our winter fashion — winter accessories including winter scarves, winter hats and winter gloves.

As a result of my time in the Peace Corps, I met our talented artisans and made an entire community of Peruvian friends who welcomed me and took care of me for two years (read more about the history of Mayu here). Mayu, my host sister while in the Peace Corps, was only 2 years old when I met her. Needless to say, she is much older now and had almost forgotten who I was on my last trip to Peru! I recently wrote about the grown up Mayucita here. I’ve never, however, introduced the rest of Mayu’s family.  Check back because I will be introducing the rest of the Mayu family in following posts!

I absolutely love these pictures of Mayu’s father, Arturo and grandmother. I took this picture last August, while working on Mayu’s 2010 collection of hand-knit alpaca accessories. Arturo was always asking me questions about life in America and we spent many of nights chatting about life in both Peru and the US. Arturo recently became the mayor of a nearby village, Huasta, and I’m very excited for him. He definitely deserves it and I’m hoping he will do great things over there. *Take note of the yellow Buddha sitting on top of an empty can of condensed milk on the windowsill.*

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MARI & MIRTHA KNITTING ALPACA SCARVES

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

Every couple of weeks, I like to remind our readers and  Mayu fans about where our hand-knit alpaca accessories and winter fashion really comes from. After all, we see the beautiful alpaca scarves, hats, wraps, shawls, hoodies and throws on the Mayu site, but sometimes we forget to recognize or acknowledge the artisans behind our fairt trade ladies accessories. So, here you have it, a couple pictures of Mayu’s knitters in action in Peru…

If you’d like to learn more about the women behind our products, check out our site HERE and read lots more! We also have videos (novice, I know, but someone had to shoot them!).

Do you know any talented artisans around the world? If so, we’d love to have you write about them and share their stories. E-mail us at info@shopmayu.com.

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