Proud owner of a Mayu alpaca accessory? Or, maybe, you have purchased our products for your friends and family? We’d love you to share your impressions using our new “disqus” function, which can be found on all of Mayu’s alpaca product pages.
Our hand-knit scarves and hats, shawls, wraps, and throws are ready to be reviewed and discussed! Please share…
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“I am so excited to report that I got my halfie!” writes Elissa, who won Mayu’s hand-knit alpaca scarf, otherwise known as our Eyelet Halfie. Fortunately, for Elissa, she happened to enter a recent EcoStiletto giveaway at the right time. Luck winner…! This is what she had to say about her brand new alpaca shawl from Mayu:
“I have never won anything in my whole life! Then I receive this amazingly beautiful halfie. It is just fabulous! I have never owned a halfie before this, however, since I have one I don’t know how I lived without it!!”
Elissa describes the Halfie as “wonderfully warm and yummy. The color is a deep rich black that goes with just about anything you can think of including my pj’s in the early morning when I get up at 5 am to get my husband off to work! I can’t thank you enough. Soon I will post a photo of me wearing it on my facebook page. I was so excited to win I sent all my friends and family to your website to go shopping! Again, thank you for such a wonderful quality product. I will be back to shop. I know my family would all love to receive one! God Bless You!!! “
Read, what other Mayu customers say about Mayu’s hand-knit, fair trade accessories and discover the Eyelet Halfie and more high-quality, Eco-friendly, ladies winter accessories made especially for you at Mayu online boutique.
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Mayu’s friends send us really fun articles sometimes. Recently, I received the following pictures from the Internet in regards to Rihanna, perhaps trying to adopt the “alpaca look”. No, she is not wearing Mayu’s hand-knit, eco-friendly, fair trade alpaca accessories, yet. But, she sure would look cute in an alpaca creme ruffle scarf, one of Mayu’s best selling alpaca winter accessory.
Want to check out the article where we found this? See it here and find all your favorite famous people compared to animals! If you ask me, I think Rihanna did a pretty great job on this one. Do you have any amusing alpaca news? Send it our way, info@shopmayu.com
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A Mayu friend and customer (btw, check out his cool websites, www.turbo140.com and www.epiccountdown.com) recently passed along this video clip from a soccer game in Peru. Since purchasing a Mayu alpaca scarf for his mom, he seems to have alpacas on the mind! He bought one of Mayu’s most popular sellers…the hand-knit, fair trade, eco-friendly ruffled alpaca scarf. His mom LOVED her winter alpaca scarf and has been seen sporting it the past few weeks in her hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Want to hear what our customers say about our winter wool scarves? Read here.
The video is pretty funny if you’ve got a sense of humor and a couple seconds to waste. And yes, it is not uncommon to see alpacas at Peruvian sporting events…
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Fair Trade is perhaps the most knows in connection to coffee and fair wages, however Fair Trade certification means much more. Fair Trade brand awareness has increased in the last decade, and now several thousands of products, including rice, bananas, tea, wine, and textiles are traded to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. Learn more about the selection of Fair Trade products at the Fair Trade Federation and, if you are interested in hand-knit alpaca clothing and winter wear, check out Mayu!
Beyond offering fair pay to workers, Fair Trade promotes fair labor standards and pricing, sustainable business and socially responsible business practices. Communities that participate in fair trade are guaranteed minimum pay, plus social price premium for community development and preservation. Fair Trade communities are also most likely to use sustainable ways of conducting businesses – such as organic farming and eco-friendly clothes. It is also common for Fair Trade communities to reinvest locally – in training of other community members, education of their children, strengthening democracy and better governance, and supporting other local businesses.
Mayu is a member of Fair Trade Federation. Here are some examples, how we help Chiquian through our business:
Fair wages: minimum wage in Peru is less than $200/ month; in addition jobs in rural villages are limited, seasonal, and difficult option for a family to sustain sufficient income. Mayu knitters earn reasonable pay for their high quality work – much higher than an average rural worker. In fact, they tell us how much they want to make and we base our prices on that!
Fair labor conditions: Mayu knitters work using high quality materials and in clean environment. Mayu also does not use child labor, instead we have created conditions in which knitters can work at home, taking care of their families and earning enough to support education of their children.
Direct trade: there are no intermediaries between Chiquian and Chicago. One of Mayu knitters takes an 8 hour long bus ride to Lima, and ships all throws, scarves, shawls and accessories to the US, where they are received and resent to our customers.
Community development: Mayu knitters reinvest their income in other local businesses in the village such as the local grocers, clothing shops and school supplies stores.
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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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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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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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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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Thinking about buying something for your loved one this Valentine’s day? Need the perfect 
gift? How about a luxurious, hand-knit, fair trade alpaca scarf or lovely alpaca throw so she can stay warm (or maybe cuddle with you?!)? We’ve got festive, yet classy colors like red and purple! Mayu’s one-of-a-kind winter fashion and ladies accessories are meaningful gifts for all the women in your life who seem to have it all. Us women can always use another winter accessory — especially one with a special story like those of Mayu’s accessories. Mayu makes it easy for you — for a guaranteed Valentine’s day hit, SHOP NOW.
SHIPPING IS ON US UNTIL FEB. 14TH!
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