Alfredo Falcon of Peru designs this striped acrylic poncho with bold colors and a mixture of geometric motifs. A touch of baby alpaca gives adds to the poncho's warmth and feel. Lightweight, the poncho makes a wonderful layering piece.
Alfredo Falcon learned the craft of weaving from his parents, who learned from their parents before them. He says, "We have been a family devoted to the world of textiles for generations. I use modern colors but I remain true to Incan and colonial motifs."
"When I was a small child, my parents began teaching me to knit. Like me, they learned them from their own parents. So we are a family devoted to the world of textile arts for generations."
Update (June, 2019) "I come from a humble family of textile artisans and my first jobs were making sweaters that we sold...Update (June, 2019)
"I come from a humble family of textile artisans and my first jobs were making sweaters that we sold later in a small store in Huaraz — an Andean city famous among tourists and mountain sportsmen. Everything went well until our town was hit by the earthquake of 1970. After the natural disaster, tourism and local commerce decreased. Added to this was the violence unleashed by Sendero Luminoso, a radical Maoist group that bled the country with terrorist attacks and forced many inhabitants of rural areas to migrate to the big cities. That was how I arrived at a settlement located east of Lima.
"There, I started a new life. I thought the only way out of poverty was moving away from textiles so I started studying accounting. Eventually I got a steady job, but then the company went bankrupt in the economic crisis and I was fired.
"I then put everything I had learned to the test and set up a small workshop for creating alpaca apparel. I began to design and make clothing with various techniques. Little by little, I bought my knitting machines and I made hats, scarves and sweaters, which were immediately received in the national market. I never thought that my work would go around the world.
"Years ago, I met Leoncio Tinoco, a world-class Peruvian artisan. He liked my work so much that he invited me to work with you to expand my business. I didn't hesitate and, in a short time, my alpaca designs went from being exhibited in the small souvenir shops of Lima to filling the closets of thousands of customers around the world, who were satisfied by the quality of my work. This was the best thing that ever happened to me.
"Over time, sales increased significantly. This helped me a lot to modernize my workshop with new technologies to increase production and create new items such as ruanas, capes, sweaters, ponchos and scarves.
"I love exploring the latest trends in fashion. It allows me to create new lines of clothing, with designs and colors that combine traditional and contemporary styles, in order to revalue the local culture of Peru. I owe my success to my beautiful team of workers, whom I have trained with new weaving techniques to provide better results, both in quality and comfort. We have also given work to the women of the soup kitchens, a social program that feeds poor people. The women participate in the finishing and crochet trim.
"I never imagined that textiles would help improve the quality of life for so many women in the soup kitchens. Most of them are mothers who don't have a permanent job, mainly because they are always providing food and schooling to their children. Therefore, they only have their free time to earn extra money. With this method, some have saved thousands of soles per month. Once a weaver came to collect 4,500 soles ($1,300 USD) in six months and, with that money she bought several appliances and other items for the home.
"I'm proud of everything I have achieved over more than 25 years of working in the textile arts I love and being part of this global family of artisans."
Original Artisan Story:
"I was born in the capital of Peru in 1968. When I was a small child, my parents began teaching me to knit. Like me, they had learned them from their own parents. So we are a family devoted to the world of textile arts for generations.
"Nowadays I combine knitting by hand and on classic machinery, remaining true to Inca and colonial motifs. I would like the world to receive high quality apparel through my work, with modern colors and traditional motifs. I hope you enjoy them!
"I have been working with you Since 2001. My workshop is located outside of Lima, a place of refuge for many immigrants who fled central Peru during the times of terrorism. Before this, I had a small workshop in an industrial park that the government gave me on credit, a place where small producers could work with dignity. It wasn't properly roofed, and its production capacity was limited. I designed and made clothing.
"My market was limited to a few local shops, and to a single small foreign client who purchased my work from time to time. Now, thanks to you, my sales increased significantly, and my workshop began to undergo an enormous change. I purchased better tools and materials. My production capacity has grown tremendously, and my work has gained considerable popularity and recognition.
"Thank you very much, my friends."
In 2016, Alfredo won a contest called The Best Knits and two of his designs were chosen for a calendar. He has also received an award from the City of Lima.
Only valid on the Normal shipping option for shipments to 48 Lower US states.
Discounted shipping price may not be applied to previous orders.
This item ships with a free artist storycard, so you can remember who you impacted today. Customized gift messages are also available with every order.
We want you to be 100% satified with your order, so if you are not completely happy with your item, you can return it within 60 days of receiving it.
We pack, ship, certify and 100% guarantee the quality of this item. Watch this video to see how.
This item is available for backorder and will ship within 6 to 8 weeks. Artists love to get backorders. Placing a backorder ensures that the artisan will do their best to create and deliver your item to our local office for shipment.
Although we cannot guarantee availability, we do expect to be able to fill the order within the timeframe indicated. But sometimes life happens - special materials may not be immediately available to the artist, or there might be some other circumstance beyond our control that could delay the shipment.
If for any reason we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will notify you.
In the unlikely even that we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will contact you and provide an updated delivery window.
This item has a special shipping flat fee which means that due to bulk, duties, or other special requirements, the item will be shipped to you via one of our special one-rate services. Shipping is only available to the United States (lower 48 States only).
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
BUST
35 - 36
37 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
WAIST
27 - 28
29 - 30
31 - 33
34 - 36
38 - 40
HIPS
37 - 38
39 - 40
42 - 43
45 - 46
49 - 50
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
CHEST
36 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
50 - 52
WAIST
30 - 32
32 - 34
35 - 37
38 - 41
43 - 45
NECK
14 - 14.5
15 - 15.5
16 - 16.5
17 - 17.5
18 - 18.5
SLEEVE
32.5
33.5
34.5
35.5
36.5
FINDING YOUR SIZE
Take your measurements with the tape measure over your under garments. If your measurements fall between sizes you may prefer the next larger size. Inseam, skirt and dress lengths vary by style and will be listed in the item description. Our sweaters are knit in standard American sizes, however actual measurements vary by style.
BUST / CHEST
Measure around the fullest part of chest under the arms and over the shoulder blades keeping the tape measure level.
WAIST
Measure around the smallest part of the waist keeping the tape measure comfortably loose. Most garments use the low waist measurement noted below.
LOW WAIST
Measure around the body approximately 1.5" below the natural waist (above). This is the area where most pants and skirts actually fit.
HIPS
Standing with your heels together, measure around the fullest part of the body approx 7"-8" below the waist.
NECK
Measure around the base of the neck keeping the tape measure comfortably loose.
SLEEVE
Bend elbow slightly and starting at the center back of the neck, measure across the shoulder, to the elbow and down to the wrist.
INSEAM
Our standard inseam length for women is 32" and 34" for men; however inseam measurements will vary slightly by style.
Belts with buckles are measured in inches that correspond to a waist size however, most people do not wear belts on the waist, they wear them closer to the hips. A buckle belt measurement is take from the end of the "pin" of the buckle to the middle hole on the belt. Generally there are 5 holes for size adjustment, with a 1" space between each, so the middle hole will the be average size of the belt.
For at tie belt (no buckle) measure the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This again is the medium size of the belt.
For a soft fabric tie belt it can be called "1 size fits most" and the entire length of the belt should be measured and listed.
See buckle/tie belt size standards below.
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
inches
26 - 30
28 - 32
31 - 35
34 - 38
38 - 42
cm
76 - 86
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
inches
30 - 34
32 - 36
35 - 39
39 - 43
43 - 47
cm
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
109 - 119
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
Sash tie length
Lay sash/tie out flat away from the garment and measure from end to end.
Belt with buckle
Measure from the end of the pin of the buckle (where it touches the buckle) to the middle hole.
Belt without buckle
Measure from the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This is will give you the medium size of the belt.
Download our printable ring sizing chart to find the perfect fit!
We refer to these items as "discounted wholesale". Such items carry a deeper wholesale discount than other items, and have greater potential to provide your business with healthier resale margins.
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UNICEF Market offers triple win pricing, where YOU the consumer, Children from around the world, and Artisans all benefit.
WIN # 1 You Save!
UNICEF Market's artisan-direct prices are made possible through our partnership with NOVICA, a leading fair trade organization that works directly with artisans in remote regions around the world in many of the same communities where UNICEF has missions. NOVICA’s ten global Artisan Empowerment Hubs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America provide interest-free microcredit loans to artisans and help them bring their handmade creations directly to you.
WIN # 2 Children Benefit!
UNICEF Market supports children by helping generate funds for UNICEF's programs dedicated to improving children's lives worldwide. These initiatives provide essential resources such as safe water, nutrition, education, health care, and emergency relief to children in need. Learn more here: UNICEF USA.
WIN # 3 Artisans Thrive!
UNICEF Market empowers artisans in emerging nations by offering a fair trade platform to sell their handcrafted goods, expanding their market reach and increasing their income. This support helps transform the lives of tens of thousands of artisans and their family members across the globe.
