Common Threads, a blog from Peruvian Connection

To Dye For

Attention all die-hard tie-dye enthusiasts: This Saturday, the de Young Fine Arts Museum of San  Francisco opens its exhibit To Dye For: A World Saturated in Color which features over 50 tie-dyed textiles and costumes from around the world. The collection showcases a variety of historic and contemporary pieces and highlights how different cultures have used the method of dying to decorate fabrics. The show runs through January 9th.

For more tie dye designs, see our Bandhani Skirt, Newport Top & Skirt, and Embroidered Tank Tops.

Labor Day in May?

That’s right, for the majority of the world, May 1st is a day to pay homage to those who ardently struggled for the worker’s rights we now have. Although Labor Day in America (celebrated in September) involves cook-outs and swimming pools, May Day around the world involves organized street demonstrations and marches.

The Labor Movement first began in the early 19th century during the Industrial Revolution in Britain, when large factories imposed dauntingly long hours and poor working conditions. Without labor protection rights, even the youngest children were subject to working 10 to 16 hours a day, 6 days a week. In 1817 Robert Owen had formulated the demand for "Eight hours labor, Eight hours recreation, Eight hours rest" which became a popular slogan as workers across the globe fought for better working conditions. It was not until 1866 that the International Workingmen’s Association took up this order for an eight-hour day at its convention in Geneva, stating, "the legal limitation of the working day is a preliminary condition without which all further attempts at improvements and emancipation of the working class must prove abortive." However, these conditions were not guaranteed to most workers for decades to come.

The International Worker’s Day (or Labor Day) was formally recognized beginning in late 19th century when international demonstrators were called upon to strike and protest against poor working conditions. This call for protests and strikes was born as a commemoration of the Haymarket Massacre in Chicago. On May 1st, 1886, workers had organized a strike in the streets of Chicago, demanding an 8-hour work day. During the strike, Chicago police opened fire, killing several demonstrators. In 1890, at the Second International meeting in Paris, Raymond Lavigne called for international demonstrations on the anniversary of the Chicago protests. This riot was so successful that May Day was subsequently declared an annual event. Then in 1904 the International Socialist Conference called on "all Social Democratic Party organizations and trade unions of all countries to demonstrate energetically on May First for the legal establishment of the 8-hour day, for the class demands of the proletariat, and for universal peace." Although rights were not guaranteed all at once across the world, countries slowly realized they had no choice but to meet these demands.

Ever since these formidable events, May Day has been a focal point for demonstrations and protests. Today, May 1st is recognized as an International Holiday to celebrate the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement. Out of their struggles, the 8 hour work day has become standard, child labor laws have been enacted and basic workers rights have been upheld. This May Day workers in countries such as Peru, France, Brazil, Japan, Germany and many, many more will march through the streets in solidarity for the great achievements of years passed.

Think Green!

Earth Day is Thursday, April 22nd… and we can think of no better time to start doing what we can to protect the environment and make the world a better place for future generations. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of eco-friendly tips for better health and sustainable living. We’d love to hear more ideas from you, so please share!

• Instead of driving everywhere, consider walking, biking or using public transit when you can.

• Carpool whenever possible.

• Keep your tires inflated. It saves fuel and tires, and it lowers emissions.

• Doing lots of traveling and commuting? Offset your carbon footprint at www.carbonfund.org.

• Plant a tree! They absorb carbon dioxide, provide shade, help control water run off and are a natural habitat for animals.

• Let your grass grow longer. Don’t over-water your lawn. Plant native or drought-tolerant plants.

• When gardening, use natural predators instead of pesticides, which are harmful to the environment.

• Get a push mower for your lawn. Traditional gas mowers are terrible for air quality and the environment. If a push mower isn’t a feasible option for you, consider purchasing a plug-in electric model.

• When you’re done mowing, keep your clippings. They make great mulch.

• Get rid of your leaf blower. These too are awful for the environment. Try a broom, or a rake, instead. (Plus, it’s great exercise!)

• Be particular about the fish that you eat. Many species are over-fished, which can have a devastating impact on the ecosystem. Visit www.seafoodwatch.org to learn about sustainably harvested fish. Also, learn more about high mercury content in some seafood species.

• Buy shade-grown coffee to protect bird habitats.

• Think globally, shop locally. Try to buy organic, locally grown food rather than food that has been transported across long distances.

• Shut your blinds or curtains during the day to keep your house cool, reducing the use of air conditioning

• Lower your thermostat in winter; raise it in the summer.

• Turn the lights off when you leave a room.

• Replace your light bulbs with LEDs. They have a much higher lifespan than ordinary bulbs and reduce energy consumption

• Conserve water. Don’t let your faucets run. Run the dishwasher only when it’s full. Collect rain water in barrels and use it for your plants.

• Switch from disposable to reusable products: cups, plates, shopping bags, storage containers.

• Switch from paper napkins to cloth napkins.

• Donate, barter or re-sell items that you no longer use.

• Use environmentally friendly cleansers in your home.

• Reduce, reuse, recycle!

• Avoid buying products that are packaged for single use—such as drinks, candy, etc). Buy in bulk and keep things in reusable containers.

• When purchasing new appliances, make sure that they are Energy Star efficient.

• At the office, use bleach-free, recycled paper and environmentally friendly soy-based ink.

• Volunteer for the environment. Work locally and globally to save natural spaces, reduce pollution and prevent urban sprawl.

• Buy clothes that utilize natural, sustainable and earth-friendly resources.

• Hand wash rather than dry clean whenever possible. If you must dry clean your clothes, go to a dry cleaner that uses nontoxic chemicals and cleaning techniques.

• Do laundry only when you have a full load. Washing requires lots of water and energy, so only do it when necessary. Use the lowest possible temperature possible. Choose phosphate-free and biodegradable detergents. And line-dry as much as possible.

• Teach your children to love and care for the planet.

Through the Grapevine

March is a time for dusting out closets and heralding the first glimpses of spring sunshine. In Peru, it’s the time of the annual grape harvest. Every year, the southern Peruvian city of Ica hosts the traditional International Vintage Festival (Fiesta de la Vendimia), celebrating an important agricultural gem, the grapevine. The abundance of grapes in Ica is especially celebratory because the greenery of local vineyards stretches across hundreds of acres of once desolate desert. The first vines were brought by the Spanish centuries ago and has turned a bone-dry desert into fertile land. The whole city participates in the festivities along with an estimated 200,000 tourists who flock to Ica for the majestic celebration.

The Vintage Festival is kicked off with a colorful parade, where folk dancers and traditional music invigorate the merriment. During the parade, the people of Ica crown their Queen of the Vintage Festival. The Queen will then ceremoniously tread through a grape-filled vat to extract the sweet juice, which will eventually be fermented into either wine or pisco. Pisco is a clear distilled grape brandy made from the quebranta grapes grown in the fertile Ica valley. To partake in the festivities at your home, try serving up the national drink of Peru, the  
Pisco Sour (see recipe in our Fiestas Patrias blog). Made from simple sugar syrup, lime juice, pisco and frothy egg whites, the tangy Pisco Sour is sure to brighten any day.

During the week-long Vintage Festival, the streets of Ica are filled with fairs, floats, competitions and mouth-watering local sweets. Tejas, a delicious confection made from pecans or candied fruits, filled with caramel and then coated with sugary icing, are a traditional favorite during this time. Locals are also known to host parties where guests dance the traditional Afro-Peruvian festejo, which celebrates Peruvian Independence. Although the celebration formally ends March 15th, these festive vines will continue to inspire remarkable pieces such as our Vendage Cardigan and Grapevine Skirt, as well as out Tendrils Pima T-Shirt.

Explore Santa Fe’s Spectacular Textile Treasures

The Textile Museum in Washington, D.C. is arranging a wonderful educational travel program, Santa Fe: Historic and Contemporary Treasures of the Southwest and Beyond. From May 19 – 23, join Maryclaire Ramsey, CEO of The Textile Museum, for an exclusive curator and director-led, behind-the-scenes tour of one of the world’s most fascinating cities.

Santa Fe is a crossroads of American Indian, Spanish Colonial and other influences, and was designated a UNESCO Creative City in 2005. Within this small city are more than a dozen museums, hundreds of galleries and excellent restaurants and shops.

Under the guidance of a world renowned textile expert, Susan Brown McGreevy, travelers will have access to the exquisite collections of the Indian Arts Research Center, the Wheelwright Museum and the Museum of International Folk Art, as well as several private collections and artist studios. Participants will also have an opportunity to engage in lively discussions with museum directors and curators, gallery owners, collectors, contemporary weavers and textile artists at private receptions. Visits to the Spanish Colonial village of Chimayó, as well as Santa Fe’s culturally vibrant Canyon Road area and Railyard District will also be included.

Peruvian Connection will host a special private reception at our Santa Fe store, an easy walk from the hotel.

See the Textile Museum's brochure for full details. Please note that space is very limited for this tour and is on a first-come, first-serve basis and is for Textile Museum members at the Supporter level ($250) and above only. To become a member or to upgrade your membership, call (202) 667-0441, ext. 17 or visit the Textile Museum online.

Caviar, Couture, and Peruvian Connection

Peruvian Connection has just been featured in the Winter 2010 edition of Caviar Affair, an über-tony quarterly magazine dedicated to the lifestyles of the rich and famous. With articles on decadent culinary experiences, bespoke travel and opulent style, the magazine brings the best the world has to offer to those with discriminating tastes and boundless budgets.

The article itself focuses on PC’s passion for preserving Peru’s treasured textile traditions, its commitment to fair trade practices, and, of course, the collections themselves—from the intricate designs and luxury fabrics to the global-chic, old-world-meets-modern-world aesthetic that has been Peruvian Connection’s signature style for more than 30 years.

 

H.E.L.P. Makes Dreams a Reality for Orphans in Malawi

Over one million children in Malawi are without a parent, a home, and an education. Peruvian Connection has joined the efforts of H.E.L.P, a nonprofit organization, to make it possible for these children to make their dreams a reality, by providing Hope, Education, Love and Protection. Malawi is one of the most poverty stricken countries in the world, with the majority of its 12 million inhabitants living well below the poverty line. Malawi is currently ranked 164 out of 177 on the Human Development Index, due to the devastating lack of clean, safe water, primary health care, primary education, and sustainable food (meaning it’s the 7th poorest country in the world).

The H.E.L.P organization was founded in 2006 by Jillian Wolstein and her family with the ultimate vision of carrying out their mission on a global level. Currently, H.E.L.P is focusing their efforts on the destitute community of Malawi with projects that include Nutritional Education, Life Skills Class, Libraries, Day Care, Drama Club, Water Hyacinth, Providing clean, safe water, Wound Care Clinic, Malaria Nets, and much more. It is through donations and sales of merchandise that H.E.L.P is able to collect the much needed funds for these humanitarian projects. Sales of our Fetish Bead Necklaces, Malawi Wood Bangles and Fetish Bead Bracelets will directly fund these aims. 100% of the funds collected by H.E.L.P will go to direct services. Together we can all continue to make a difference in the lives of children faced with a suffocating barrage of daily challenges. 

One of the most foundational feats H.E.L.P has achieved is the construction of a full primary school and health clinic. The traditional open-aired rural school in the Balaka district of Malawi was transformed into a well-equipped primary school with eight classrooms, seven teachers housing units and latrines. Originally, the Nanthomba Primary School nurtured 320 students, but thanks to generous donations and support, this number has risen to over 750 students. H.E.L.P provides training for teachers, which has contributed to the rising educational standards for the area. In the future, this school will have the resources needed to allow H.E.L.P to provide a nutritious breakfast to students every morning, including a generator, fruit orchard, livestock and storage facilities. H.E.L.P is also hoping to build another secondary school in the near future. These goals will be achieved if we work together in the effort to bring hope and education to Malawi children.

The Wound Care Clinic, which was also established in 2006, serves the teachers, students and even the local communities. The clinic is currently able to treat wounds, infections, illnesses and diagnose urgent needs that will require hospitalization. H.E.L.P has set goals to construct a fully-equipped healthcare clinic and maternity wing that will provide vital medical care. Without this clinic, the closest health care facility is 3-4 hours away by car. This new maternity wing will help reduce the astounding maternal death rate by providing a safe, healthy delivery. Malawi has the third highest maternal death rate in the world. Recent statistics show that 1, 120 mothers and 4, 200 babies die for every 100,000 births. 

This new healthcare development will also serve as an approved HIV/AIDS testing and treatment site, which has increasingly ravaged African communities over the last couple decades. Currently, over 14% of the Malawi population is living with HIV/AIDS, which includes 641,000 children (of which 550,000 are orphans) and 500,000 adults. For more detailed information about the heath-care services that will be provided, please visit www.helpchildren.org. With each donation, they are one step closer to opening the new facility and reducing these heart-breaking figures of death and disease.

In an effort to raise support and awareness of this charismatic foundation, Peruvian Connection is offering a selection of H.E.L.P products, including the Fetish Bead Necklace and Fetish Bead Bracelet. These products use hand-crafted beads that have been collected from the African trade markets. Culturally, African beads are used as repositories of ancestral wisdom and tradition. Each bead is not only unique, but contains a piece of African history. We are also offering the Malawi Wood Bangles, which are entirely hand-carved by African master carvers. 100% of the proceeds collected by the H.E.L.P foundation will be directed towards education, healthcare and relief in Malawi.

Please join Peruvian Connection and the H.E.L.P foundation in the journey to spread Hope, Education, Love and Protection to the children of Malawi. If you would like to donate to the cause directly, please visit www.helpchildren.org. Little contributions will bring big changes: $5 will buy a life-saving mosquito-net to protect against malaria, $20 will buy three baby blankets and $50 will purchase much-needed school supplies for 25 local village children. Your generosity and support will help now and future generations for years to come.

Bring on those alpaca sweaters!

Peruvian Connection's Kansas headquarters on Dec. 30

Most winters I find that my closet of warm and woolly alpaca sweaters does not see as much use as it deserves.  With thermostats set on 70 and typically mild winters, my warmest sweaters spent most of their days in dark seclusion, waiting for their day in the sun.  This winter, however, has been different, with record lows and snowfalls.  All around the PC headquarters, employees are donning their warmest alpaca sweaters, scarves and pima t-necks.

Now I'm thinking I need more alpaca sweaters, like the cozy handknit Terrazzo Cardigan,  and perhaps a hat like the Snow Queen Cap, or even a cape to throw on over it all, like the Alchemy Cape.

 

A Peruvian Christmas

Peru may seem a world away, but the Western traditions of Christmas will be highly recognizable. Even though Christmas actually occurs during the summer months in Peru, Santa Claus, known as Papa Noel, is still depicted as a jolly white-haired man wearing a large red coat, gloves and a hat. The western influence is obvious, but many aspects of the holiday have been melded with decidedly Peruvian features.

With nearly 75% of the population identifying with Catholicism, the celebration of the birth of Jesus is an important event. The rural context of the nativity scene makes it especially identifiable to the people of Peru. On December 24th, known as "Noche Buena", people flock to the Plaza de Armas in Cusco for the annual Santuranticuy market, which literally means "buying of the saints". Artisans fill the street with handmade figurines, including Jesus, Mary, Joseph, angels and shepherds, carved from Huamanga stone, gourds, glass or even wood. Retablos, wooden boxes with a carved image of the nativity scene inside, are also wildly popular. Most families traditionally buy the pieces for their nativity scenes at this market, keeping them on display until the celebrations on January 6th.

Another distinct feature of Peruvian Christmas is the practice of "chocolatadas". During the week of Christmas, especially on the 24th, it is common for families, churches and organizations to offer cups of hot chocolate to those less fortunate. Chocolatadas are a celebration of togetherness and selfless giving.

After the preparation of the nativity scene, families return home for a grand Christmas Eve dinner, often replete with an all too familiar turkey, wine and a fruit filled bread known as Paneton. At midnight, fireworks light up the sky and dancing fills the street. The Christmas celebration continues through the week until la Bajada de los Reyes, "the arrival of the three wise men", on January 6th. Following the tradition of the three wise men, people typically exchange gifts on this day.

With Christmas only a couple weeks away, we want to wish everyone, from North and South, a Happy Holiday! Be sure to check out our fabulous gift-gallery or to give the gift of hope, consider an altruistic donation to the Pro Mujer foundation, which helps empower and support women in Peru.  You can help support ProMujer with the purchase of a silky-soft Baby Llama Throw, with all proceeds benefitting ProMujer, or by sending them a tax deductible donation.
¡Feliz Navidad!

--Amanda Hart

Even Abe Shops PC

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood when two of Washington's Penn Quarter businesses teamed up to promote the area's rich history. Neighboring PC's flagship store in Washington, DC are the historic Ford's Theatre and Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.  Always the ultimate salesperson, PC's manager made sure Honest Abe had our latest catalog for his holiday shopping.