Its that time of the year again! Are you in Chicago? Come out and attend Chicago Fair Trade’s upcoming GlobalFest! 

This year’s fundraiser is in honor of Latin American producers and artisans, which includes the knitters that make Mayu’s  hand-knit alpaca accessories. The celebration is at the National Museum of Mexican Art in  Pilsen on FRIDAY OCT. 28.

“Join the celebration at Chicago Fair Trade’s annual gala featuring fair trade wine and cocktails, appetizers, and special Day of the Dead brew.  Find elegant fair trade treasures at our silent auction.  Globalfest will celebrate the growing consumers support for products that guarantee social benefits to workers and the environment.

Stories of Latin American producers of Fair Trade coffee, wine, chocolate, fashions and jewelry will be included.

Emcee: Tsi-Tsi-Ki Felix, lead news anchor of Telemundo Chicago

For more on Mayu, find us on Twitter, and Facebook, and hear more stories from the field on our Blog!

PromPeru has understood the hidden potential, and started projects to increase quality, production and access. They have been increasing the international competitiveness of Arequipa’s textile producers and designers…

Two important activities were carried out in 2010. Firstly, PromPeru educated female entrepreneurs and textile designers from Arequipa in three key areas: design, market access, and business development.  Secondly, Peru held “Peru Moda” Latin American fashion show last April, to facilitate access to international markets, which turned out to be great success, and will take place this April. Results have exceeded expectations – programs have indeed empowered female entrepreneurs  in Peru and an increasing number of alpaca textile businesses are making their way up to high-end boutiques in global markets, just like Mayu!

With a similar mission of helping communities reach out to sophisticated target markets, Mayu started working 600 miles North of Lima Here at Mayu, we believe that the Peruvian alpaca we use is of the most superior image and quality. At the same time, the beautiful alpaca accessories we knit empower prosperity in local communities that have used alpaca for hundreds of years. Read more about Mayu business model in Peru, and visit our online store for high-quality, one-of-a-kind, hand-knit alpaca accessories.

For more, find us on Twitter, and Facebook, and hear more stories from the field on our Blog!

As you know, Mayu is big on volunteering! After all, our company started as a result of my time volunteering in the Peace Corps (amazing experience…). We wanted to share with you a post by Christina Baker, a volunteer with Karikuy, a travel and volunteerism company in Peru!

“I think I really baffled the minds of my friends and family and I’m sure I almost sent my mother into a comatose state when I told them I was moving to Peru on a whim back in December not knowing exactly what is was that I would be doing here. To be honest I really didn’t have a clue. I was dead set on immersing myself into another culture, but when it came down to choosing the “where” part, I did what any well-rounded, mature person would do and turned to the most reasonable solution; I pulled out my globe, spun it around with my eyes closed and pointed to my future country of residence (YES, Mayu used to does this too!). Needless to say, I think I lost their confidence in my not so planned plan somewhere between “Peru” and “let’s see what happens”. As it turns out however, finding a volunteer gig that doesn’t cost $1000/week (excluding airfare and meals) is pretty hard to come by these days. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon the volunteer writing placement with Karikuy tours that my summer months really started to take shape.

Initially when I had first signed on, I was drawn to the program’s flexibility in allowing its writers to report about any area of interest concerning Peruvian life and culture. Since I had plummeted myself into a journey of seeking the unknown, the opportunity to share my own personal experiences and new perspectives with the world seemed irresistible. With free time on weekends and with the flexibility that the program offers I’ve been able to visit all over from the sandy dunes of Ica, the eerie witch town of Cachiche, the icy blue Pastoruri glacier and rolling hills of Huaraz all the way to Marahuasi with its thousand stone faces and of course to the renowned gem that is Machu Pichu.

So what is a day in the life of a volunteer like here at the residence? Well for starters, we work on a very relaxed schedule which gives us the freedom to focus on our own areas of interest within the program whether that is researching for Perupedia, Karikuy’s online database of all things Peruvian or fundraising for the organization’s ongoing humanitarian projects the Kaikuy-Haugen Fund and Project Animu. Our days are always interceded with the most appetizing home cooked meals, which is probably the reason why I’m still here, and of course the delicious churros (which has inadvertently become our daily 5 o’clock ritual) is just too good to give up. No caramel filled churro at 5pm is unheard of in this house! On many a day, at the end of the day, you will probably find us in the city centre, hovering around the Plaza de Armas soaking up the hussle and bussle of city life or exploring some corner of the city that has yet to be discovered. Having lived here at Karikuy’s Bed and Breakfast for more than 3 months now, it has become more and more apparent to me that this is no ordinary volunteer experience. I can say now that is has fuelled my interest in Peru as well as pursuing future opportunities within this beautiful country and although a new country always has its challenges, this program has challenged me and what I thought I knew about myself, the world and the people in it.”

Interested in volunteering? Mayu supports you, 100% (especially if you are headed to Peru)! Check out Karikuy for more information on the Volunteer Program! And, for more stories about Peru, Alpaca Accessories, Knitting, Fair Trade and all that good stuff, follow our Blog, find us on Twitter and become a Fan on Facebook!

Jesus wrote this message to Mayu’s fans:

Chiquián is a beautiful place in the Andean of Perú. “Light in the dark” is the name of my photographic blog that I present trying to recover and show the natural expression of this town, its culture and its people. Come here is a nice  experience for your soul, you can feel that can touch the sky … You can see the dark and white mountains at the same time. Chiquián is a paradise to discover! 

http://chiquianfotos.blogspot.com/

Algun detalle me comunicas, porfavor!
Cuidese mucho, un abrazo. Hasta pronto!
Jesús Bolarte Ramirez (Jepe)

Jesus is definitely right, Chiquian is a place that is amazing for the soul. Can’t make the visit this year? The soul can still feel good — purchase one of our hand-knit alpaca scarves, hats, wraps, shawls, hoodies or afghans and contribute to the well being of Mayu’s artisans and their families! And, I promise you will feel not only warm and fuzzy inside, but also on the outside, wrapped in luxurious, eco-friendly alpaca yarn.

Welcome to our Mayu Look Book series where we will explore the NEW Mayu collection, piece by piece.  Recently made a Mayu purchase?  Show us how you style your new Mayu alpaca accessories by sending us a photo – we will be sure to share it with the Mayu community (and that includes our artisans in Peru)!

Our journey begins with the Unisex 4 Color Infinity Scarf a new fall edition . The ladies were asking for the perfect man-scarf and I think we’ve found it! This versatile piece looks fabulous with any coat, trench or jacket.  It is a noteworthy addition to all wardrobes — with it’s mix of black, chocolate brown, beige and charcoal, you just can’t go wrong. This alpaca scarf can be styled by draping around your neck two times as a fashion statement or wrapped three to four times when you have to stay warm on those winter commutes!  Additional piece of advice, when the man in your life snags your luxurious, bulky and loosely knit Infinity Scarf for the day be sure to get it back!

Oh, and Mayu’s founder, Kate, says that she lived in this Peruvian scarf on her last trip to the mountains of Peru. She just couldn’t take it off! She is counting down the days until the cold so she can pull it out. Kate knows the compliments will come her way…

Take a look at Elvira knitting the Unisex 4 Color Infinity Scarf and be amazed at her artistic abilities. Elvira, like many of the the Mayu Knitters works to support her family with the business provided by Mayu.

Hasta Luego!

For more on Mayu, find us on Twitter, see us on Facebook and to hear more stories from the field, subscribe to our Blog!

Alpaca is very important to the Mayu community as it is the sole source of raw materials for our Mayu merchandise. Alpaca embodies the characteristics of both cashmere and wool and as a natural fiber has natural thermal capabilities.  Bred specifically for their fiber, alpacas provides a durable fiber, that is hypoallergenic, SUPER SOFT AND COZY and is considered to be environmentally-friendly. Learn more about alpaca at www.whatisalpaca.com and give a nod to alpaca this weekend!

If you can’t make it out to your nearest alpaca farm, check out our visit to a beautiful alpaca farm outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

For more on Mayu, find us on Twitter, see us on Facebook and to hear more stories from Peru, subscribe to our Blog!

Click here to view the embedded video.

For more on Mayu, find us on Twitter, see us on Facebook and to hear more stories from the field, subscribe to our Blog!

Hello Mayu fans my name is Allison Hermes and I will be taking on the Marketing Internship for www.shopmayu.com throughout this fall season.  I am very excited to play such an integral role in the development of the Mayu brand and in the women of the Chiquian community. I am greatly pleased to be involved.

That said, I will be taking on an additional challenge when I leave for London this Sunday to pursue higher education. I will be studying International Business and Development throughout this next year. Previous to this challenge I worked at Sears Holdings Corporation as an Assistant Buyer for K-Mart Kitchen Textiles followed by my most recent position as Operations Analyst for the Sears Home Appliances Online and Social Media team.  Additionally, this past July I participated in a Sprint Triathlon and like the Chiquian women I also enjoy knitting although extremely less skilled!

I look forward to engaging and supporting the Mayu community with my experiences and future education.

Cheers!

Click here to view the embedded video.

An insider’s look at Mayu Artisans’ workshop in Peru. Watch the video to get a better idea of how our artisans operate. They have their own filing system, we promise! Don’t let the “messiness” get you down. Your products will come to you looking just like new, with attention to detail and love from the Andes. This is just part of the process! Kate, Mayu’s owner, is a novice with the camera so excuse that too…

Keep up with Mayu by subscribing to our blog, follow us on Twitter and find us on FB!

Thanks!
Chelsea
Mayu Intern

P.S. Don’t forget about our GIVEAWAY !!

Some people actually go to Peru as tourists, others, like our own Kate Robertson, go there to work on the new fall designs for Mayu. The sign, for those non-speakers of Spanish, welcomes you to bonito Chiquian, the “Little Mirror of Heaven,” and details the tourist activities one can partake of in that part of the Bolognesi Province. These include seeing an archaeology site, the Huayhuash Mountain Chain, and several touristy streets in the actual town. Kate is enjoying her vacation very much, she loves Chiquian! I think this new sign on the outskirts of the town makes her realize all the things she still has to do in Chiquian as a visitor from afar. What about you guys? When you travel, do you HAVE to do all the touristy stuff, or are you more about relaxing with the local people? Leave a comment below!

Thanks for reading, have a great weekend!

Chelsea
Mayu Intern :]

For more on Chiquian, stay tuned to our blog, follow us on Twitter and find us on FB, or you can visit the town’s lovely website!