ALLPAMAMAS IS NOW KAYAMAMAS

We are Kayamamas, the women of tomorrow. A community woven together by the act of making clothes. We are embroiderers, wool spinners, designers, weavers, seamstresses and communicators. 

From the Andes mountains of Ecuador we see the sun rise behind mountains and volcanoes, blessed with hope for a better tomorrow. This is where our name comes from - Kaya means tomorrow in Kichwa, the native language of our home.

We’re a group of diverse ages and cultures. We are co-workers, who also feel like each other’s sisters, grandmothers, mothers and daughters, as it happens amongst women. There is always something new to learn, food to taste, music to dance to. We love experimenting with textiles and colors, telling stories, and celebrating birthdays. 

Today, we make more than clothing. What glues us together is using our hands and collective wisdom to express our creativity with love for those who use our products.

READ THE OPEN LETTER OUR NAME CHANGE

  • IKAT | Carmen Orellana, Jhoanna Guillén

    The Ikat technique works with 100% hand woven cotton, plant dyed (with the exception of black, which we're working on alternatives for).

     

    The ikat textile, also known as ‘makana’, is handmade by 5th generation weaver Carmen Orellana in Bullcay, Azuay province. She was awarded the Excellence in Artisanship prize by UNESCO. Carmen was involved in establishing Ikat weaving as Immaterial Cultural Patrimony of Ecuador, which protects the craft from appropriation by other groups.

    Watch our video documenting Carmen's work here. 

  • EMBROIDERY | Estela Cacoango, Tránsito Nóquez, Ana Anrango

    All embroidery is handmade with plant dyed cotton and wool. From Angla, Imbabura.

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    Made by Estela Cacoango and Tránsito Nóquez and Ana Anrango. Estela is part of the founding team. She has been involved with Allpamamas since day one, as our trusted advisor and firmest believer.

    Watch our video documenting Estela's work here: 

  • PEDAL LOOM | Huarmi Maqui Casa Matico

    Fabrics are 100% cotton

     

    Woven on Matico's pedal loom in Peguche, Imbabura province. She and her daughter, Paola, run a project with indigenous Otavalo women weavers, called Huarmi Maqui, "women's hands" in Kichwa. Since 1990, they have refused to sacrifice quality and handwork by resisting the lower prices o f their competitors. We are thankful to Huarmi Maqui for preserving their craft.

    Visit their website here 

  • HAND SPUN & HANDWOVEN WOOL | Andes Materials

    Fabrics are 50% hand-spun wool, plant dyed. 50% cotton. With tagua seed buttons, also plant dyed.

     

    The wool threads in these garments are hand-spun. The community in Salasaka who makes them own the entire process: from sheep to fabric.

     

    They dye the wool with elements they harvest in their own backyard. Hand-spinning wool is a technique that is almost extinct. We're grateful for the Andes Materials team, who custom make this fabric for us.

    Watch the video documenting their work here 

  • UPCYCLING, PATCHWORK & ZERO WASTE DESIGN | Daniela Llulluna, Patricia Ninahualpa, Mishell Sandoval

    We design aiming at zero waste. Creative Director María Puente Silva takes into consideration the size of the textiles before designing the clothing patterns. All scraps are taken into account and made into