OUR SUPPLY CHAIN
At Arms of Andes we SINGLE SOURCE our products. This means we source our fleece and yarn, as well as manufacture the fabric and the garments themselves in Peru. We keep our supply chain as short as possible to ensure traceability of our products and reduce our overall carbon footprint.
THE SIX STAGES OF PRODUCTION IN PERU
Fleece Production
Small scale farmers - usually individual families - shear their alpacas in the highland areas of Southern Peru. Women sort the fibre into different qualities by touch and sell it to the yarn producer.
Yarn Production
The fleece is taken overland to yarn suppliers (not far from the farms), where it is washed with biodegradable detergent and water heated by solar panels. The washed wool is turned into "wool tops", then spun into yarn.
Fabric Production
From southern Peru, the yarn is taken overland to Lima on the central coast, where it is woven into our unique fabric, in the first of our partner factories.
Fabric Dyeing
The fabric is taken to another processing centre in the city where the colour is added. The dyes we use are natural colorants, extracted from plants or insects, so are biodegradable.
Garment Production
The fabric is cut into the shapes and then is stitched together to form the garments. Members fo the AoA team are present throughout this phase, to ensure our production standards and product quality
Distribution
Garments are then shipped by air to our distribution centers in Los Angeles, USA and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. When you order, your garments are shipped to you from the nearest distribution centre.
Short supply chains, close relationships with our suppliers and partner factories, and a focus on sustainable production, all mean that we can keep our transportation carbon footprint low, ensure traceability of our products, and work in an ethical way.