KNITTING PEACE

Some years ago, during a visit to her native homeland of Bolivia, Sonia Gallardo, a knitting enthusiast and founder of the socially conscious business Knitting Peace, was struck with the realization of a need for opportunity in one of the least common places to be associated with opportunities, a correctional facility in La Paz, Bolivia. This insight marked the birth of Knitting Peace; a social enterprise committed to making a difference by empowering incarcerated women in Bolivia with opportunities to continue to support themselves and their families while engaging in therapeutic work so part of their heritage, knitting.

What makes Knitting Peace knits different?

At first glance, these ultra soft hand knit Alpaca products evoke sensations of indulgence, warmth and nurturing. However, to really get a

sense of what makes these products special, it serves to hear the story behind them.

The story begins with women convicted until proven innocent of crimes such as theft, fraud, debt and drug trafficking. Their freedom depends on their ability to obtain legal representation, usually impossible due to their level of poverty. However, the peculiarities of these jail sentences don’t stop there. In a country as poor as Bolivia, children of indigenous decent have few options, including having to live with their mothers within a jail or correctional facility if she is incarcerated. Furthermore, these facilities do not have enough provisions to meet all the needs of these mothers nor their children and thus the women are forced to continue to work while incarcerated to support themselves and their children.

Obtaining work within a jail is hard enough, and even harder for a population with little formal education. However, most of these indigenous women were gifted early on with the skill of knitting, weaving and crocheting, passed on through the generations as a means to endure the cold winters in the Andes. And this is where Knitting Peace comes in, serving as the much needed bridge to opportunities, empowerment and sustainability.

Knitting Peace recognizes the natural craftsmanship these local artisans are known for as an opportunity that can be leveraged into financial freedom for these women and their children. Under the dismal circumstances of Bolivian jails that house both these women and their descendants, this opportunity is serving to nurture both the soul of the women and the children that they feed.

Luxury Meets Generosity

The products created by the women of Knitting Peace exude the artistry of an ancient wisdom passed from generation to generation, fused with a modern touch. The materials used are clearly intended to invoke the tradition of their native Andes yet in a contemporary, luxurious and practical way. This is achieved by means of the material, Alpaca fiber that is often compared to cashmere yet due to its thermal qualities can be used in warmer weathers, and the deep and rich colors used throughout the product line.

True to the known Andean form, the quality of the products show the women take great pride in the work they are doing. Every scarf, wrap & throw blanket gives off a sense of appreciation and care. But what makes these products really beautiful is how in their creation, the women of Knitting Peace are empowered through their heritage artistry to provide for themselves and open up the road of opportunity for their families.