Fair Trade
Third-party auditing report
Our Fair Trade standards have been independently audited by World To Market (since renamed Viatru, www.viatru.com). The following paragraph is a record of their observations for our fair trade production in Peru:
In conducting our research of product origins in Peru, we discovered an intact and beneficial model of community trade in sourcing of Indigenous Designs (ID) products. Specifically, we visited with several impoverished communities in remote and desolate areas of the Andes, who depend upon the income derived from the production of ID garments. In these communities, small scale farming and handicraft production are the only sources of income. We were able to visit three community centers where men and women who are members of the knitting cooperative gather in clean spacious rooms during the week to learn design, sort organic alpaca and organic cotton fiber and raw material, and knit finished products. We were pleased to see many positive aspects of sustainable trade. For example, use of natural dyes, no dyes, and organic fibers, equal distribution of responsibilities among men and women, training opportunities for artisansto improve their skills and understanding of quality control measures, and support from localnon-profit organizations that enhance the community development activities of the cooperatives.
The sourcing of ID products in Peru demonstrates a true commitment to sustainable trade, environmental conservation, and respect for human dignity and economic opportunity for all!
Dennis Macray, Viatru