Greensboro News & Record (NC)
November 12, 2004

SWEATER SALE KEEPS PERUVIAN CO-OP GOING

Author: Josh Barrer, Staff Writer

Edition: ALL
Section: LIFE
Page: D1

In a small mountain town in Peru, 68 women get together to knit sweaters, hats, handbags and other items from the local alpaca wool.

They've organized as a collective called Artesania Pachamama, which means "Workshop of the Mother Earth," and use the profits from selling the sweaters to benefit their rural town of Manazo.

For three days, Triad residents will have the opportunity to purchase the fruits of their labor and help support the collective.

A nonprofit based out of Greensboro's St. Pius X Church has partnered with the women to support their work and sell the sweater. All proceeds from the sale go back to the women.

The nonprofit, called Artesania Pachamama USA, was started in 1999 when a missionary group from St. Pius went to visit a sister parish in Manazo, a town of about 3,000. Upon arriving, they discovered that the Cincinnati organization that had been selling the sweaters since the collective's beginning in 1985 would no longer be operating. They decided to take over the role.

Michael Roberto, an assistant professor of history at N.C. A&T, was on the missionary trip and decided to serve as president of the newly formed Artesania Pachamama USA. The annual sweater sale has been held since, with each year proving to be more successful than the last.

"Last year we sold almost $25,000 worth of merchandise," Roberto says. "Maybe $10,000 went to buying yarn, and another $5,000 went to ship it, and another thousand to store it, and what you're left with is the (profits), but that all goes to them."

The women make $13 for each sweater they knit, plus profit based on the sales.

"Thirteen dollars goes a long way in Peru, and if the women didn't have this extra income, it would be very difficult to sustain their economy," Roberto says.

There are sweaters for men and women selling for an average of $75 in a range of styles that can go for twice as much at specialty stores.

"They do beautiful work. The sweaters are exquisite," Roberto says. "Some of the sweaters have very indigenous cultural designs, while others are very plain."

Roberto hopes that with the help of the Artesania Pachamama USA, the women of Manazo will be able to increase production and further help the town's economy.

"Right now they make about 400 sweaters a year, but if they can build up some capital and employ more women, we're hoping they can expand to making 800 sweaters a year and expand into a full-fledged business."

Contact Josh Barrer at jbarrer@news-record.com

Copyright (c) 2004 Greensboro News & Record
Record Number: 0411120096