Enter: Noonday Collection
I joined Noonday Collection as an Ambassador last July. I had never been to a trunk show, and the closest Ambassador to me was hundreds of miles (literally states) away. I didn't take time to perform a proper risk benefit analysis, or pro/con T chart. I listened to my heart, which told me this was something I just had to be part of. I jumped in blind. Did you hear that? I put on my big girl pants and declared myself a world changer. Somehow this organization that uses fashion to create meaningful opportunities around the world, was allowing me, a stay at home mama of two to find herself again. They say giving is better than receiving- and let me tell ya, advocating for our artisans by creating a marketplace where their beautiful pieces can be sold, has meant more to me than just that euphoric feeling of giving to others. It's been my privilege. My pleasure really, to act as a voice for the voiceless.
I decided the day after my launch that I had to meet our artisans. I've always been a traveler and I craved the life changing experience of storytelling with strangers turned friends. My desire to make a difference was after all, the reason I joined. I did the math, and I promptly drafted a goal list (I'm a list maker, a note keeper, and a word hoarder), because when you write it down, it becomes fact, yes? I'll spare you the details of late night trunk shows in the snow, complications from my oldest's tonsillectomy, and a husband away for work. I'll share the happy ending instead: by early December I had qualified for an Ambassador trip. WHAT?! Somehow I had pulled it off. If anything was ever meant to be, it was this. OK deep breaths...
Once the shock of my upcoming adventure had subsided, it was time to get to know the fifteen other world changing women I'd be traveling with. Women who, just like me, had taken a leap of faith to be a part of something bigger than themselves. And well, we just happen live in an era where socializing via the interwebs is our modern day cultural norm. Within minutes of our trip placement being announced, we all joined a Facebook group and the rest is history. Everyone immediately feels connected to strangers you just met online, right? That's the beauty of this tribe- we all share some common thread that connects us, that brought us to this exact point in life. One Fun Fact Friday after the next and we had become a single story telling whole. The time had come...
Saddle up ladies, we're going to PERU!
First Stop: Lima
From the moment we arrived it was evident Peru is a country rich in cultural history. Here our group visits the Amano Textile Museum in Miraflores. Ancient Peruvians did not keep a written history, and therefore textiles became the main way of symbolizing and preserving every thing about their culture and way of life. The patterns and designs we were lucky enough to view absolutely transcend time, and could be found on a modern duvet at Anthropologie, or the latest Noonday bag. And to think everything we saw was made by hand, using many of the same techniques still in practice today. What a treat this was! World changers at our finest.
(Photo credit: Kate Halaris)
Later that day we visited Emelime, the group responsible for knitting many of our alpaca scarves and arm warmers. We received a crash course in culture, humility, and survival as a band of artisans tried to teach us all to knit (insert humility here). At one point I recall looking up and taking in the scene: each artisan was paired up with two or three ambassadors, and all eyes were fully engrossed in the task at hand. Every one of us was communicating through hand gestures and broken Spanish, but the outcome was downright poetic. They were teaching us their craft.
(Photo credit: Joanna Wang)
(Photo credit: Jennifer Frey)
One of the women struck a chord with us all. With hesitation sweet Hermona shared that her parents had passed away when she was one. The new family who took her in did not value educating women. She began knitting at a very young age, and knew all the stitches by memory rather early on. When she was older she saw an opportunity for work in a knitting circle and literally made her own knitting needles out of tree branches she ripped down. This woman was determined to survive.
That day I learned that these women knit with love. The pride they have for their craft is unrivaled. It's not just work for them, but therapy really. You see, knitting is a communal activity. They knit together, and in doing so they can forget how tough life can be. For these artisans, knitting provides companionship, creates shared experiences, and allows many to overcome. In other words the exact description of Noonday's pillar: better together.
(Photo credit: Analisa Jernigan)
Here I was able to gift Efigenia with a special heart handmade by refugees living in my area, as a way for them to earn an income. How sweet and grateful she was; and what strength she projects. I wish she lived closer, I'd love to get to know her. It's not simply about selling more fair trade items, but really creating better livelihoods.
I must say, I was blown away by the artisans working here. The pieces crafted are in no better words a true labor of love. Every cut, every marking, every part of every piece is all hand crafted, with absolute pride. While sharing a few of their stories, one young girl relayed she used to take care of Fermin's children years ago, and then began working in his shop to earn a better income. A few artisans had even left (because the lure of greener grass is often part of life in your youth), but quickly realized the income and working conditions at Fermin's workshop far exceeded whatever else they had found. In a town of dusty streets, Fermin's shop has the greenest grass around. What a joy it was to meet this man providing for so many. Here are a few pics of Fermin, his workshop, and view of the surrounding area.
See you next time, Lima.
So you're saying our crew of world changing ambassadors will be flying across the world's longest continental mountain range, and this is our ride?
(Photo credit: Lindsley Grebenik)
Hello, Andes. The view in air wasn't breathtaking or anything.
Look at that blue sky. We have arrived!
Exploring the streets and enjoying a photo bomb with the locals. (Photo credit: Lindsley Grebenik)
Our first stop in Ayacucho was to visit Faustino and Mercedes, the proud founders and owners of the artisan group, Hilos and Colores, translated literally to Threads and Colors. This group is 'dedicated to rescuing, preserving, and promoting ancestral Peruvian textiles and techniques.' Remember our visit to the textile museum in Lima? Well this group actively weaves, embroiders, knits, crochets, and sews high quality products that speak to the traditional designs we saw at the museum, but also manage to flatter all modern trends. Even at some of the markets in Peru, you could tell the difference between hand crafted artisan goods such as products by Hilos and Colores, and those that were factory made. Our global marketplace is often saturated with mass produced goods, made out of synthetic and sometimes hazardous materials. It's refreshing to find a group like H&C that proudly make their natural products by hand. Here Lucas shows us how he dyes all of the yarn and how he created his own system to bundle each color. UH-mazing.
From threads to finished product. So beautiful. (Bottom left photo credit: Kate Halaris)
Could these two be any cuter? (Photo credit: Lindsley Grebenik)
Our very own Pom Queen. (Photo credit: Lindsley Grebenik)
Oh and their boss, Faustino? Starting with his very own mama, he makes empowering women a cornerstone of his business. In a culture that often heralds the 'machismo' way of thinking, he is at the forefront for the opposite mindset. He allows women to bring their babies to work and does whatever he can to keep them working, which includes his partnership with Noonday. And his wife Mercedes? She's his equal of course. Swoon, Faustino. Swoon.
Here one of the artisans at Hilos and Colores shares that the bracelet she received from Noonday was the first she'd ever been given. She has four children and totes her littlest everywhere, including when she's working. Such a kindred spirit she was.
With our fill of threads, colors, and a whole lot of heart, our Peruvian journey continued two hours away up a curvy mountain road to clearing by the river. A location I assure you, could not be inputted into Google Maps. It was here that fifty native Quechuan women had congregated to meet and share stories with our Noonday tribe of world changers. We were told several of them had walked for three to four hours to get here. Often carrying their embroidery projects on their backs, in the same carrier that once held a child, they kept their work close. Although at times difficult with the language barrier, given two translators were on hand to assist our conversations (from Quechuan to Spanish, and then Spanish to English), the day was simply enchanting. These women come from so little, yet offered us everything. I cannot think of where they might be without the work and income they are able to earn because of Noonday. Through the universal language of children's laughter, we were all connected that afternoon by the river. Talk about an experience you'll never forget.
Might you suggest it was happenstance that I qualified for the trip, was chosen for Peru, or paired with this exact group of ambassadors and trip leaders turned life long friends? Nope. I say it was all meant to be.
(Photo credit: Joanna Whitely)
Here's to next year, ladies. I simply cannot wait.
