The line consists of colorful knitted dresses, sweaters, and more that are all handmade with woven or crocheted knits—two fabrications that are the speciality of local artisans. García and León will supply the knitwear makers in Lima, Cusco, and Ayacucho with the sample ideas and natural yarns, and then the artisans assemble the pieces for them. “It’s all handmade, there are no machines,” says León. “A piece with alpaca, we can do two a week, but a piece with crochet can take up to 2 weeks.” On average, artisans receive about 16 to 20 percent of each sale, with 8 percent of every sale also going towards training programs.
This week, the label launched its latest assortment of joyful and timeless pieces, including lilac jumpers, crocheted tops, and whimsical knitted dresses that are embellished with pom-poms or asymmetrical detailing. “The inspiration [for this collection] came from all the pictures we had from those first trips,” says León. The sweaters range from $200 to $300, and dresses are $300 and up.
In the new collection, the duo also highlighted one of their weavers specifically. “Her name is Flora, and she’s from Misminay, Cusco,” says León. “We were inspired by the nature [around her home], and her dresses, too.” A rainbow-striped sweater they released, for instance, was inspired by recent special visits they’ve had with her. “She has the most beautiful landscape in front of her house, and every time we’ve been there, there’s a rainbow out front,” says León. Through fashion, León says they want to continue empowering their artisans and bringing them to the forefront—by letting them guide the production process, and allowing them to inspire the designs themselves. “We want to tell their stories,” says León.
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