Shipibo Art

There just isn’t enough room in our catalogues or even on our website to fully describe how special some of our pieces are, and a classic example of that is the Shipibo Artisan Shawl pictured together with the Audrey Dress in the fall catalogue. Here at Peruvian Connection, we take great pride in the fact that part of our company vision is to “promote and perpetuate Andean and other artisan textile traditions.”  This shawl is a beautiful example of traditional South American Indian art.

 

The Shipibo community is comprised of about 35,000 people spread about in a few hundred villages primarily situated along the Rió Ucayali which connects with the Rió Maranon to form the Rió Amazonas (Amazon River).  The Shipibo tribe has maintained a strong tribal identity despite centuries of contact with Peruvians and Europeans. 

 

Our shawls are woven in Peru and then transported in canoes up the Amazon River and into its branches to reach the Shipibo people.  Once the intricate embroidery work is completed by the native artisans, the shawls are carried in canoes back to the city, and then shipped on to the Peruvian Connection distribution centers in the US and UK.

 

The artistry to create the geometric designs used by the Shipibo is passed from one generation to the next.  However, the artists believe that each individual design comes from a specific inspiration of the same artistic spirit.  Commonly the women will work together to produce a single piece and one woman can interrupt her work and another woman or women can complete it with the finished piece looking as if it was made by a single artist – communal art at its finest! 

 

Although there are varying theories about the meaning of the unique Shipibo geometric patterns (some anthropologists believe it an ancient language form and others see it as a mapping of the rivers of the Amazon) art lovers can appreciate the beautiful designs and original look of the Shipibo designs and this shawl can be worn or displayed as the beautiful piece of native artistry that it is.

 

Mary Towse

Raised near a barn

Growing up in Kansas, I drove by the old stone barn at Lakeview for many years.  We'd take our Afghan hound to run at the lake, watching the adorable spring lambs frolicking outside the barn as we passed by.  We drove by the old barn on the way to the dairy, where my well-intentioned parents bought fresh milk so that my brother and I could get a taste of the country - a little too much of a "taste" for me.  Fast forward several decades to 2009: finally I got the chance to see the inside of that old barn.

On the quest for photo shoot locations that measured up to Italy, Mexico, Peru and beyond, we searched high and low for beautiful old buildings, majestic landscapes and walls with that perfect patina of time.  It wasn't until one of the other location owners suggested the Taylor Barn that we took a closer look.  I was awestruck to see the arched windows, masterful stonework and hand-hewn wooden beams in the 3-story barn, built in 1879.

Our photo shoot crew struggled to stay warm with electric heaters, down comforters and lively music, thanks to the unpredictable Kansas weather. The warm hospitality of barn owners Chuck and Debi Taylor made up for it all.  We warmed our toes and our souls inside their restored Victorian farmhouse, where we enjoyed the fantastic smells of one of Debi's other sidelines, Rangeland Herbs, makers of handcrafted natural soaps.

Stay tuned for more on the Fall 2009 catalog - coming soon!

Spectacular results for Fashion for a Cause

On April 26, Peruvian Connection fans and staff enjoyed a high-energy benefit described as "the most professional fashion show in Kansas City." The New York style runway show raised more than $285,000 for Kansas City's Truman Medical Peri-natal Diagnostics center. Approximately 1000 philanthropic attendees were treated to some of our best looks for Spring, plus exclusive previews of the Fall 2009 collection. Attendees also enjoyed complimentary gift bags from Peruvian Connection. The frenetic pace of the show challenged PC designers who facilitated beautifully from behind the scenes. The rest of us here at PC thank Annie and the designers for all their hard work! 

View Prizm Productions' pre-show campaign video about Truman Medical Charitable Foundation on YouTube.

For a taste of the top-level production quality and energy that go into this event, view Prizm Productions' video of last year's fashion show and interviews.

^{Photo courtesy of Foley-Photography, Kansas City, MO.}

View the Foley-Photography photo gallery of this event or purchase prints.

Quinoa: Peru's "Mother of all Grains"

After many years of reading about the wonders of Peru's grain, quinoa, I have always intended to incorporate more of it into my diet.  I have been somewhat intimidated by past recipes that call for repeated soaking and rinsing to remove the bitter coating on the grain.  But when Annie, our CEO and founder, brought in this month's issue of Gourmet with loads of delectable Peruvian recipes, I knew it was time to give it a try.  The story's beautiful images and descriptions of colorful veggies and exotic seafoods causes my stomach to rumble, but the recipe for a quinoa salad intrigues me the most.

Quinoa is not technically a grain since it is not from a grass, but is the seed of a leafy spinach-like plant that is grown in the high altitudes of the Andes.  There it has been cultivated for more than 6,000 years, called the "Mother of all Grains" by the Incas.  Traditionally the Incan emperor sowed the season's first seeds with golden implements. The nutrional value of quinoa shows that it truly deserves its reputation, valued as a complete protein and powerful source of many nutrients. 

Thanks go to Gourmet magazine for this recipe for Quinoa Salad with Fresh Hearts of Palm (now I only feel intimidated by the search for fresh hearts of palm. They do say chayote can be used as a substitute, if cut into matchstick-size pieces to make 2 cups.)

Quinoa Salad with Fresh Hearts of Palm
serves 8
active time: 20 min.     start to finish: 40 min.

1 c. quinoa
1/2 c. finely chopped red onion
1/2 lb. fresh hearts of palm (not canned)
1/4 c. red-wine vinegar
1/3 c. olive oil
1/2 c. packed flat leaf parsley leaves

Wash quinoa in 3 changes of cold water in a bowl, draining in a fine-mesh sieve.  Cook quinoa in a medium pot of boiling water, uncovered, until almost tender, about 10 min. Drain in sieve, then set sieve over same pot above 1 inch of simmering water.  Cover quinoa with a folded kitchen towel (not terry cloth), then cover with a lid and steam until tender, fluffy and dry, about 15 minutes.  Let stand covered with towel for another 5 minutes.

Meanwhile soak onion in a bowl of cold water 5 min. then drain well and pat very dry. Trim ends of hearts of palm, then cut crosswise into very thin slices.

Whisk together vinegar, oil, 1/2 t. salt, 1/4 t. pepper in large bowl.  Toss quinoa, onion, hearts of palm, and parsley with dressing.

More Quinoa recipes from 101 Cookbooks (vegetarian) and Epicurious

PC Kids go to Work for a Day

April 23 was "Bring Your Daughters & Sons to Work Day", a nation-wide program dedicated to helping our nation's daughters and sons explore their future opportunities at work, at home, and in the community. Twelve daughters and sons and grandchildren of employees (and friends of employees), ages 8 to 15, spent the day at Peruvian Connection's Tonganoxie, KS headquarters. Activities were planned to help the boys and girls experience what's involved and required for a job and to discuss the challenges of integrating work and family responsibilities. Various departments sponsored hands-on activities where the children had the opportunity to design an article of clothing, listen in on actual customer calls, process and ship orders, think about career choices and play a game of Peruvian Bingo. Thanks to all the kids who participated!

The big kid is PC's own Anthony "Uncle Tony" Brooks, Computer Systems Analyst and tour guide for the day.

Visiting kids were invited to the Design Department to draw their own fashion designs.

In the Packing Department, employees demonstrated the detailed work that makes top-notch product presentation.

In Shipping and Fulfillment, kids learned how to scan and ship packages.

Things are greening up in PC's hometown for Earth Day

After a tornado tore through Peruvian Connection's hometown of Tonganoxie in 2000, PC set up a fund to help beautify the storm-ravaged parks and city trees.  Many trees were planted and tended over the past few years and this year those funds built the new Master Gardener's toolshed in the town's Magnatech Park. Peruvian Connection groundskeeper, Angie Andrews, well on her way to becoming a certified Master Gardener, is helping to procure new tools for PC to equip the shed.

Peruvian Connection's headquarters as seen in Spring 2008

 Around Tonganoxie, school children and members of the community are helping promote a greener way of life through recycling efforts, tree planting, and educational programs.

 

Join PC in support of women's health programs

Fashion for a Cause 2009

A benefit for Truman Medical Centers Women’s Health Programs

April 26 at the Midland Theatre, Kansas City, MO

Enjoy highlights from our Spring collection and take a sneak peek at some of our Fall fashions.

Attend Fashion for a Cause, and receive a $25 off coupon for any purchase of $75 or more during May at the KC Peruvian Connection store!

Buy tickets now

Spring Green-up

At Peruvian Connection, we’ve been green since our start in 1976. Utilizing sustainable, eco-friendly resources, such as alpaca and Peruvian pima cotton, our designs are produced by some of the finest artisans in South America. We work with traditional cottage industries in Peru, which have a serious commitment to fair pay and the best possible working conditions (read more on our Fair Trade beliefs...) 

 

Tips for greening your closet as well as stretching your budget:

* Donate or re-sell old clothing to keep it out of landfills. If you choose to re-sell, eBay offers a program where the proceeds of your auction go directly to charity (read more...) In today's economy, more and more households are relying on thrift stores to meet their needs.  Textiles that can't be sold by the thrift stores can be recycled (read more...)

 

* Shop with a plan. You’ll get more use out of a piece that looks great on you. Ask yourself: What colors work best on me? What fits are the most flattering? How will the piece work with everything else in my closet? Is it a high quality item that will last me several seasons?

 

* Love your luxury fibers. Whatever you’ve chosen, take good care of it. When you get home, change out of work wear. Learn how to sew a button back on, and get the name of a local tailor or seamstress for major repairs and alterations.

 

* Hand wash rather than dry clean when possible. We suggest using Fine Fibres hand-washing liquid whenever you can. If you must dry clean, see if there’s a local green dry cleaner employing “wet cleaning” or liquid CO2 techniques.

 

* Wash only when you have a full laundry load. Turn articles inside out and use the lowest temperature possible. Choose phosphate-free and biodegradable detergents, and line dry as much as possible. Treat stains quickly with nontoxic removers. If you’re buying a new washing machine, look for one with an Energy Star label.