KUSIKUSI - CHANGEMAKER 2026

Founded in 2009 as part of QUIJAS Agribusiness’ corporate social responsibility initiatives, KUSIKUSI is a women-centered knitwear training and production programme rooted in rural Peru. Its mission is to empower women harvesters by strengthening their soft skills, technical expertise in traditional knitting, and business capabilities, enabling them to generate independent income compatible with the seasonality of agricultural life.

For over 16 years, KUSIKUSI has demonstrated that market access — not aid — is the most sustainable driver of change. By integrating high-quality alpaca and Pima cotton knitwear into global value chains, the programme has trained more than 100 rural women and positively impacted over 500 family members, connecting them directly to international buyers in Europe and the United States.

The impact extends beyond income generation. Women gain confidence, visibility, and decision-making power within their households, earning increased recognition for their economic contribution. At the community level, KUSIKUSI strengthens social cohesion and preserves Peru’s rich textile heritage by transmitting ancestral knowledge, stories, and cultural identity across generations.

Through this scalable and sustainable model, heritage, dignity, and economic opportunity grow together.

Rooted in agricultural communities where income depends on seasonal cycles, women at KUSIKUSI transform off-harvest periods into productive, home-based income through textile craftsmanship. By aligning knitting with agricultural rhythms, they build a complementary economy that strengthens household stability without disrupting rural life.

Through structured technical training, soft-skills development, and access to international markets, women elevate ancestral textile knowledge into sustainable economic opportunity. As skilled producers of high-quality alpaca and Pima cotton knitwear, they become economic agents who contribute directly to household resilience and long-term financial security.

Their impact extends beyond income. Greater economic participation generates a visible intra-household power shift: women gain confidence, decision-making capacity, and increased respect within their families. As cultural stewards and mentors, they preserve and reinterpret traditional knowledge while inspiring younger generations to value both heritage and innovation.

In doing so, women at KUSIKUSI become architects of a dual livelihood system — balancing land and loom, tradition and market access, dignity and development.

KUSIKUSI is a purpose-driven brand with a strong presence in both local and international markets.

One of our earliest and most formative partnerships began in 2012 with PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) Norway, which financed a leadership and textile workshop for women in our communities. This collaboration evolved into a commercial relationship, with PwC commissioning 2,500 alpaca blankets as corporate Christmas gifts—demonstrating that social impact and market demand can grow together.

KUSIKUSI is licensed by PROMPERÚ, Peru’s government agency for international trade, and authorized to use Marca País Perú and Alpaca del Perú. Through PROMPERÚ and the Lima Chamber of Commerce, we have participated in international trade fairs and roadshows in New York, London, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Perú Moda.

Our model is scalable and replicable responding to glabal demand for ethical, traceable fashion made from natural, sustainable fibres. KUSIKUSI collections combine contemporary design with traditional craftsmanship, enabling responsible growth across the entire value chain.