At the Source: Peruvian Manufacturing in Focus

Traveling to garment factories located in mountainous areas throughout Peru guarantees a memorable expedition. While en route to Arequipa, the core of Peru’s alpaca textile industry, one encounters a swirl of scents and sounds — namely woodsmoke, seasonal end-of-summer aromas and chirping crickets — paving the way to a city that houses approximately 100 alpaca fiber exporting companies, according to government agency Prom Perú. As the second largest city in Peru, Arequipa is well-known for its textile enterprise and panoramic views of the Andes Mountains: Three snow-covered volcanos flank the city, which lies in a valley at 7,550 feet above sea level. Alpacas thrive in mountain areas, and that’s where they graze, making Arequipa a natural fit as the site of Peru’s alpaca industry. When taking a closer look, Peru’s manufacturing infrastructure takes form as an impressive, large-scale operation: Arequipa is a manufacturing base of high-end brands such as Prada, Mara Hoffman and Kate Spade, among many others. Perú Moda Delivers Premium and Locally Made Sustainable Fashion One of the biggest players in the region is Mitchell Group (the other, Grupo Inca), an expansive alpaca mill that supplies yarn to a number of well-known midrange brands, such as J. Crew, The Gap, Banana Republic, Club

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