In May 2013 PurelyAlpaca undertook an Adventure Research trip through the highlands of the small country of Ecuador. Since 2002, PurelyAlpaca has promoted alpaca with outreach and products from all over the world. From hand made items created by artists and American alpaca farms to South American indigenous peoples imports to products from huge Peruvian manufacturers, PurelyAlpaca offers the widest array of alpaca products to showcase the beauty, luxury and value of this Earth friendly renewable resource.
Our goal in traveling to Ecuador was to seek out new sources of alpaca. We visited alpaca farms, alpaca manufacturers and of course ALPACAS throughout the high mountainous center of the country. As a result of that research, a new shopping category, Ecuador Alpaca is open. The Ecuador Alpaca section of www.PurelyAlpaca.com offers beautiful examples of alpaca craftsmanship with clothing accessories and now 100% Natural Alpaca Blankets.
The wonderful colors, textures, vivid landscapes and long standing traditions of Ecuador are shown via the link below. We specifically sought out the small but long standing alpaca culture in the mountainous highlands. Waning in years past, Ecuador is currently experiencing a reawakening of alpaca traditions on many levels. In our travels we also met many "Ex-patriot" Americans helping in the resurgence of alpacas in Ecuador.
Ecuador Alpaca Research Trip
100% Natural Alpaca Blankets have been produced under the guidance of Patricia Espadero, DVM and Stu White and All Things Alpaca Ecuador. Stu is an active American professor in Vermont who lives in Ecuador outside of the beautiful city of Quenca with Patricia and their three children. One of the many things Stu does with alpacas includes bringing groups of American students to Ecuador to explore animal husbandry and sustainability for college credit. Involved in Ecuador since the early 80's, Stu has been instrumental in the resurgence of alpaca farming in this small country. His focus has always been on herd quality, herd health, sustainable farm practices and fair trade business opportunity for native Ecuadorians.
Patricia is an Ecuadorian Veterinarian who also operates the Mazar Wildlife Reserve, Ecuador. The Mazar Wildlife Reserve (MWR) is a 4400 acre private conservation initiative which protects wild habitats in an ecological restoration in the heart of a true Andean biodiversity hotspot. The native forests and grasslands are home to the Andean mountain bear, mountain lions, the spotted forest car(oncilla), brocket deer, 160 species of birds and other priceless animals. New species of frogs have been discovered on the MWR.
The exquisite yarn for the blankets is produced in a family-business spinning factory in Guano, Ecuador a town in the shadows of Chimborazo volcano in the central Ecuadorian Andes.
Sales of products such as these blankets generate funds to maintain the Mazar Reserve as well as expand the development of markets for the local indigenous alpaca farming, knitting and milling operations in Ecuador.
Stay tuned to new products from Ecuador by getting our newsletter.
-Brian
PurelyAlpaca
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