Our chosen charity for 2025.
Awamaki is a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to connecting Andean artisan weavers with global markets. They collaborate with women artisans to support their efforts towards educational and financial independence.
Awamaki was formed in early 2009 to support a cooperative of ten women weavers from Patacancha, a rural Quechua community in the Andes of Peru. Awamaki’s founders, Kennedy Leavens, from the U.S., and Miguel Galdo, from Peru, had worked together at Awamaki’s predecessor organisation with the weaving cooperative for two years. When the predecessor organisation decided to close its doors, Miguel and Kennedy formed Awamaki to continue their work with the weavers. The organisation grew rapidly to include programs in health and education, as well as other artisan cooperatives and a sustainable tourism program.
In 2011, Awamaki spun its health program off into an independent sister organisation, and made the strategic decision to focus on income improvement and market access through fair trade artisan cooperatives and sustainable tourism.
We’re pleased to announce that we have partnered with Awamaki as our first ever charity partner, and are in the process of licensing three of their designs for use across our range.
