Features
Ethical retailer of the week: Pachamama Knitwear
Pachamama sells unique pieces of fair trade clothing, made with natural materials and by fine artisans in Ecuador and Nepal.
Pachamama – an ancient Inca word that means Mother Earth – was set up in the 90s that sells handmade natural knitted clothes.
It produces handmade wool and cotton clothes sourced from Ecuador and Nepal, which are manufactured on a very small scale by craftsmen and therefore are often unique.
“What all of our products have in common is that they are made with great deal of patience and care, not to say love and in an age of mass produced mediocrity we like to think this gives them what might be called a little soul”, the company says.
Pachamama’s products are made in small villages, in factories that employ around 100 people in Nepal and 20 in Ecuador. Clothes include socks, jackets, hats, sweaters and slippers, made with wool or cotton.
As the name itself suggests, the company has the respect for people and the planet at the core of its business. It operates through a fair trade policy, which means that artisans making clothes are paid above standards and are in a committed long-term relationship with the company.
Pachamama also ensures to use natural products and recycled cardboard packaging and labelling. It is a member of the British Association of Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS).
The company also donates 10% of its profits to Net4Kids, an international charity that helps children in Nepal.
Further reading:
Ethical retailer of the week: Pret A Manger
Ethical retailer of the week: Doves Farm
Ethical retailer of the week: WeWOOD