Minga Fair Trade Imports

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DID YOU KNOW?

	A belt woven on the traditional backstrap loom can take as long as four days to complete.
	Llama wool is naturally hypoallergenic because it contains almost no Lanolin and can be worn by babies and those with allergies to sheep’s wool.
	In the Inca empire, specially chosen women dedicated their lives to weaving fine textiles, some of which were used in ritual offerings to the sun.
	In South America, families may start training children traditional weaving skills as early as 3 years of age.
	Weaving a blanket on the backstrap loom can take over a week to complete.
	The Incas so highly valued fine textiles, that when conducting a census, they rated them more highly than precious metals, gemstones, ceramics, or food
	Amazonians invented clay pottery around 4000 BC. Before any other South American cultures.
	In the Amazon basin, basket weaving is traditionally a male craft, while pottery making is done by the women.
	The production and sale of ceramics from the Amazon region has given many women the means to provide income for their families and a greater degree of power over their lives.
	Llamas and Alpacas were domesticated in South America over 4000 years ago and were central to the success of the Incan empire.

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The production and sale of ceramics from the Amazon region has given many women the means to provide income for their families and a greater degree of power over their lives.

Llama fiber is warm like sheep’s wool but is lighter in weight and does not shrink.

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