21/07/2026
"Did you know Analy before you started Chicha?"
I was asked this today, and the honest answer is: no.
No, I didn't know her before my trip back home last year. But the moment I saw her market stall, I knew I had to stop. Her woolly treasures caught my eye, but it was her story that stayed with me.
Analy works with a network of 15 women who craft and hand embroider kids knitwear from their homes to support their families. As we chatted, I remember thinking: I have a feeling Iโll see you again.
I bought a jumper for Isla, got Analyโs contact details, and couldn't stop thinking about them when I carried on traveling.
I met a lot of talented artisans during my trip but my mind was already made, after a few weeks I went back to see her and told her I wanted to take a dozen pieces with me back to my new home in NZ. The rest is history.
Today, every Chicha jumper carries a piece of that journey, from the hands of women crafting in Peru to little adventurers exploring NZ. ๐ต๐ช๐ณ๐ฟโค๏ธ