Adrian and Maria Pineda live and work in Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Seen here with Yannina of Manos Amigas Adrian and Maria Pineda live and work in Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Seen here with Yannina of Manos Amigas

Lake Titicaca is not only very beautiful but at 3820m above sea level it is the highest navigable lake in the world and South America’s largest lake – being 170km in length and 60 km wide. Lake Titicaca is not only very beautiful but at 3820m above sea level it is the highest navigable lake in the world and South America’s largest lake –170km long and 60 km wide.

People live here on floating islands made of reeds you can eat People live here on floating islands made of reeds you can eat! Layers of these reeds are replenished from the top as the lower layers rot. They also make a very environmentally friendly and silent form of transport that can be used for several months before it starts to decompose. People live here on floating islands made of reeds you can eat! The islands are made of many layers of these reeds which are replenished from the top as the lower layers rot. Walking on these islands is a very strange experience – a bit like walking on a giant mattress. They also make a very environmentally friendly and silent form of transport that can be used for several months before it starts to decompose.

Adrian and Maria have a small courtyard and workshop behind Adrian and Maria have a small courtyard and workshop behind a shabby door on a busy traffic filled street in Puno. Adrian and Maria have a small courtyard and workshop behind a shabby door on a busy traffic filled street in Puno.

For the last 15 years Adrian and his wife Maria have run a family weaving business creating scarves, shawls and blankets. Natural colours are used – no dyeing is required. For the last 16 years Adrian and his wife Maria have run a family weaving business creating scarves, shawls and blankets. Natural colours are used – no dyeing is required.

Although Adrian is unable to read and write he can draw designs Although Adrian is unable to read and write he can draw designs. He teaches other artisans and loves to share his knowledge and skills. Although Adrian is unable to read and write he can draw designs. He teaches other artisans and is very happy to be able to share his knowledge and skills.

They have helped by providing training with business administration. Manos Amigas have helped Adrian and Maria to develop their business and now buy around 30% of their output. They have helped by providing training with business administration. This is a partnership that is based on fair trade and mutual respect. Manos Amigas have helped Adrian and Maria to develop their business and now buy around 30% of their output. They have helped by providing training with business administration. This is a partnership that is based on fair trade and mutual respect.

How is a scarf made? Natural products are used throughout – even the looms are made of wood. First the alpaca fibre is washed and combed to check for irregularities that are carefully cut out Natural products are used throughout – even looms are made of wood First the alpaca fibre is washed and combed to check for irregularities that are carefully cut out

Alpacas are a variety of colours, from white to black with varying shades and mixes of brown and grey. An adult alpaca stands about 3ft at the shoulder. They produce a superb fleece of fine strong fibre which grows down to the ground if not clipped. Alpaca hair gives excellent thermal insulation. In its native environment, in 24 hours, the animal may endure night temperatures as low as -20°C while during the day the high altitude mountain atmosphere allows temperatures to soar to 18°C. Unlike wool and cashmere, alpaca hair is hollow allowing the air trapped inside to expand and contract with temperature variations. When compared with lambswool, mohair or cashmere, alpaca is lighter and far warmer on a weight by weight basis Alpacas are indigenous to the South American countries of Peru, Chile and Bolivia and have been farmed for their highly prized fleece for centuries by the ancient Inca people and their ancestors in the high altiplano region of the Andes. Like llamas, alpacas are found in a variety of colours, from white to black with varying shades and mixes of brown and grey. Smaller than the llama an adult alpaca stands about 3ft at the shoulder. They produce a superb heavy fleece of fine strong fibre which will grow down to the ground if not clipped. The fleece grows thickly on their legs and faces, giving them an extremely attractive appearance. Alpaca hair provides excellent thermal insulation; in its native environment, during the course of 24 hours, the animal may have to endure snow, hail, rain and night time temperatures as low as -20°C. During the day the high altitude mountain atmosphere allows the temperature to soar to 18°C. Unlike wool and cashmere, alpaca hair is hollow allowing the air trapped inside to expand and contract with temperature variations. When compared with lambswool, mohair or cashmere, alpaca is lighter and far warmer on a weight by weight basis. This factor alone gives alpaca garments a superior level of warmth without being heavy. An annual shearing produces between 1-6lb of very fine fibre per animal.

Wool is spun and then woven Loom is 40 years old, the scarves are woven in one long strip and cut up later Loom is 40 years old, the scarves are woven in one long strip and cut up later

Wool is stretched between two poles in the courtyard to set up the warp which is transferred to the loom in the workshop. The warp is the strands of wool that run lengthways along the scarf through which the weft is woven. Wool is stretched between two poles in the courtyard to set up the warp which is then transferred to the loom in the workshop. The warp is the strands of wool that run lengthways along the scarf through which the weft is woven.

Adrian aims to produce 7 or 8 scarves in a day, on one long roll

Scarves are measured to check the quality and finished with a wire brush to soften them before their long journey to the UK and waiting customers Scarves are measured to check the quality and finished with a wire brush to soften them before their long journey to the UK and waiting customers

Can be seen on the Created website…!! Search Manos Amigas. With your support, Adrian’s beautiful products and those made by other artisans can be bought and appreciated thousands of miles from the tiny courtyard where they were created. Can be seen on the Created website…!! Search Manos Amigas.