Buenos Dias las chicas!

I assume some of you aren’t aware of the fact that since saturday, I find myself again in one of the most beautiful countries in the world…. Peru baby! We started our big trip in humid Lima with plenty of production meetings. All very interesting, but yet a bit less ‘photo-proof’, but also with a lot yummy Peruvian food. You can read about our first few days on the Belmodo.tv website, where I will also be blogging every other day. So don’t forget to check that out!

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As you might have read in my earlier posts (if not, please do so!), all the magic happens in Ayacucho. This is a pretty little Andes mountain village where the atelier of Solid International is located. LNKnits has been their first client and is still the biggest one by far.

Here in Ayacucho we give human work to over more than 200 women. A gorgeous project that grew gradually over the years, simultaniously with the succes of LNKnits.

We started off with only 30 women the first year, now we count over 200 hundred “mamas”. All pieces of the LNKnits collection, whether it is a baggy beanie from LNBeanies or a Cosy Charlene from LNAndes,… are all made by the hands of these amazing women. We provide them an honest income and therefore a better life for them and their families.

As a friend of mine mentioned earlier on my instagram (don’t forget to follow! @lnknits) ‘the perfect example how 21st century entrepreneurship should be’. Fairfashion. Designing and creating a timeless collection that is made in human conditions with natural fibers, and so we can keep on supporting those who really need it.

Yesterday we arrived in Ayacucho and after a good midnight rest and healthy Peruvian egg-based breakfast, we were ready to meet all these lovely ladies… Right before I enter ‘our’ atelier, I always find myself extremely nerveous…The feeling you get by seeing 200 women, all so grateful and happy to see you since you are the person they see as the provider of their work and income… I can hardly describe it…

I must mention and say that it is thanks to YOU that we can grow every year and keep on supporting these women. They are so happy to hear that back in Belgium there are a bunch of also gorgeous women (and men, also J)) who are very much impressed by the beauty of an LNKnit. An LNKnit that the hands of these Peruvian women have knit, and therefore are happy to find out that these LN’s now are in good hands also ;-).

The welcome ceremony as we call it, was touching, as always, but also very much fun and it gave me a lot of energy. We laughed, danced, chatted, … and I had to pose with over 60 women I think. Crazy how the digital revolution is literally everywhere! They weren’t even surprised with me using a selfie-stick to capture all of these lovely moments. They have seen it all.

I have promised these women that we will continue to grow and to place large orders for them to knit. I’ve promised to work even harder (I do am wondering that this is even possible though J)) and to keep on going. Because, I think we and with ‘we’ I mean my amazing LNKnits team back at home: Anneleen (and baby Ferdinandje), Lien & our freelancers, are doing a great job… ! These Peruvian women give us power!

I could go on for hours still… But tomorrow (and the day after tomorrow) we will need to ‘rise & shine’ at 5.30 AM since we are off visiting the Alpaca farmers (and yes… the (baby) Alpaca’s!) high in the Andes!

My (hard) bed is calling!

Nighty night folks!

Love,

LN