In this note we tell you more about Away Pallay, one of the seven social enterprises that is in the pre-acceleration stage of the Entrepreneur Fund, an innovation program of the Wiese Foundation that aims to train, finance and provide professional support to social enterprises in Peru.
Their story
Away Pallay works hand in hand with high Andean weavers from Cusco, offering them not only a source of income, but also a place where they can express their art and culture, through their fabrics.
Since its inception, Away Pallay has worked with women weavers, offering them tools and resources so that they can develop their skills and improve their products. In addition, this social enterprise focuses on the preservation and promotion of the ancestral techniques and designs of the region. Currently, it works with two high Andean communities in the region of Cusco, Peru: Challwaccocha and Acchahuata.
Their commitment to innovation is an interesting aspect to highlight. Away Pallay has developed new techniques and designs that combine Andean tradition with contemporary fashion. In this way, they seek to reach a wider public and make Andean culture known throughout the world.
Their work with the weavers of Cusco
The Wiese Foundation team made a trip to Cusco as part of the activities of the Entrepreneur Fund. Its goal was to get to know first-hand the work that Away Pallay does with the communities of weavers and thus evaluate its impact first-hand.
Challwaccocha is located at an altitude of 4600 meters above sea level and is a small and remote community, surrounded by mountains and impressive landscapes. As for Acchahuata, it is located at an altitude of 3700 meters above sea level and is a larger community than Challwaccocha. In both communities, the master weavers produce beautiful textiles with alpaca and sheep wool, using ancestral techniques.
One of the main characteristics of Away Pallay is its commitment to sustainability and fair trade. All products are handmade with natural materials and environmentally friendly processes. In addition, the women weavers are paid fairly for their work, allowing them to improve their quality of life and that of their families. Away Pallay’s work is done in close collaboration with these communities to promote sustainable development, fair trade, the preservation of the environment and Andean culture.
Among the products offered by the social enterprise are capes, vests, ponchos and home accessories. All of them are unique and carry with them the history and culture of Cusco.
Although Pallay began as a small project in Cusco, today it has an international presence through its virtual store at www.pallay.pe. In this way, it has been possible to take the products and story of the high Andean women weavers of Cusco to different corners of the world. Also, you can visit their physical store located at Calle Palacio 116, Cusco.
However, they not only focus on the sale of products but also on the education and dissemination of Andean culture. Through workshops and events, they seek to promote the value of fabrics and Andean culture in society.
Pallay Experience: Experiential Tourism
Pallay not only offers high quality products, but also experiential and community tourism experiences. This allows visitors to get to know the environment of the master weavers up close and learn about their ancestral textile customs and processes.
In these communities, visitors can live with the weavers and learn about their way of life, customs and culture. During the experience, they can participate in workshops where they learn to weave with ancestral techniques and natural materials. They can also learn about the textile production process, from animal shearing to spinning and weaving.
Aside from being a unique opportunity to learn about the Andean culture and their ancestral textile processes, the experiential and community tourism experiences offered by Away Pallay allow visitors to enjoy nature and the Andean landscape in a tranquil and cozy environment.
In summary, Pallay is a social enterprise that not only offers high-quality products, but also supports and empowers the high Andean women weavers of Cusco. Its commitment to sustainability, fair trade and the promotion of Andean culture make it an example of how entrepreneurship can have a positive impact on society.
If you want to know more about their work and social impact, go to their website, here.
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