Often we can travel without having any real connection with the place we are visiting which is why we love the Awamaki fair trade store in Ollantaytambo. The volunteers that run the shop are incredibly enthusiastic about the project and love sharing their experiences with you. The shop itself has fabulous high quality and unique items such as shoulder bags, purses and skirts made using traditional Andean weavings, a broad range of exquisite throws and ponchos from the high Andean communities of Patacancha, Kelkanka, and Parobamba, as well as items such as leg warmers, hats, and gloves from Awamaki’s knitting project to keep you warm on those cold Ollantaytambo evenings. All the products they sell are made by women in the local communities so you are guaranteed that the money you spend goes right back to them.
Awamaki is a non-profit organisation that works with indigenous Quechua women in the Ollantaytambo district to create economic opportunities for them, improve their social well-being, and develop their technical skills. By eliminating intermediaries, who often buy traditional textiles at a much-reduced price, the women’s cooperatives that Awamaki works with are able to improve the standard of living for their families and have a renewed sense of pride in the value of their work.
Awamaki projects range from the knitting cooperative formed in order to help women from the community of Huayroncoyocpampa devastated in the 2010 floods to re-build itself, the weaving cooperatives in Kelkanka and Patacancha and the AwaLab design initiative. The latter which combines the sewing talents of a local women’s cooperative from Rumira with the creative talents of emerging international fashion designers to create original pieces using traditional weavings. To read more about the other community programmes run by Awamaki click here.
If you want to immerse yourself in local Andean culture sign up for one of Awamaki’s tours where you can visit the local community of Patacancha, learn about the traditional weaving process and buy beautiful weavings directly from the community. Awamaki also offers a homestay programme where you can spend a night or two with families in Ollantaytambo getting a real feel for local life. Want to brush up on your Spanish or try your hand at Quechua? Click here to see the full range of tours and programmes offered by Awamaki.
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- The store is run on the principles of fair trade so items are more expensive than you will find in local markets. This is because Awamaki is committed to using 100% natural fibres and dyes, and pays the women a mutually-agreed fair price for their textiles. This is in direct comparison to any handmade textiles that you will find in most ‘artisan’ markets in Cusco and the region, which have been bought by intermediaries who pocket most of the money for themselves.
- If you want a more immersive experience where you can give something back during your time in Peru, Awamaki also offer various volunteering opportunities which you can read more about here.