AMAKAYA THREADS

Stories, Patterns &

a Celebration of Plants

Discover The Rich Heritage

Of Shipibo-Konibo Textiles

Boutique

About Amakaya Threads

We want to spread the beauty of the Shipibo-Konibo's vibrant colors, story telling patterns and long history of artisanal traditions. We work directly towards supporting the women of the Ucayalli river, and make their art seen and accessible to wear around the world.

It is no small affair that these patterns and skillsets live on today - but they only do so - just. We are dedicated to stimulate, encourage and help to preserve this unique heritage through Amakaya Threads.

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Why It Matters

A frightening amount of fashion today has spiralled out of control. Cheap, fast, senseless waste... Though it is in a small scale, we want to do what we can to offer you something different to wear, something Loved and Meaningful.

Each one of our garments reflect deep roots of the intimate relationships the indigenous Shipibo people have with nature, spirit and true craftsmanship. Each piece we make is a reason for a us to sit down with our threads and keep this practice alive.

A Stitch At a Time

Every item we make takes several weeks to complete. In a world that moves as fast as ours, we wish for you to wear our threads and be reminded to also slow down, concentrate, and know that with patience you will get there in the end.

Our Boutique

Our boutique is small and ever changing. We are constantly growing and exploring new combinations of colours and designs. We love particularly love merge our traditional Shipibo patterns with Scandinavian influenced design, such as our signature Botanical Blouse.

Currently our offerings include female clothing, but with purses and home decor coming soon.

Bespoke

Bespoke is our favourite part of the work. Because we want you to love your Threads, suit your every occasion with colours that make you want to sing. We will co-create the perfect fit together with you.

Make Your Own

We hope that what we do, inspire some of you enough to want to immerse yourself as well in the wonderful world of Shipibo symmetry, plants and threads.

Soon we will have Starter Kits available in the shop, and offer embroidery techniques, patterns and online stitch-tricks so that you can make your own. When you're ready, we're ready. Let's start a community!

Women With Threads

If you take a plane to Pucallpa, in the Peruvian Amazon, and from there a "speed" boat down the river for six hours, you will be getting nearer the village of Pauyang. But first you need to..... and walk down a dirt road to find the porch of the Urquia family. There you will find the women with threads. Women who carry generations of passed down teachings, techniques, trials and errors. Women who still today carry the true meaning, wisdom and mystery of the Shipibo symmetry.

In the world of Shipibo, it is known that a toad is a masterful artist. It is a virtuous at creating exquisite symmetry out of its spawn. One day a woman sat by a river bank, and the great toad told the woman that he would teach her the secrets of his craft. She in turn taught her daughters, who taught their daughters, who taught their daughters. Hundreds of years and many generations later, a woman called Lucía Urquia sits by the same river bank, and she has taught her daughters.

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Path Of Your Garment

Crafted in Pauyan: Your piece is picked up on the porch of the Urquia Family when Lucía, daughters Bridget & Carola or a neighbouring women in the village have finished the embroidery.

The Ucayali river Passage: Once complete, the garments travel by river boat for about 6 hours, navigating the deep jungle to reach the road in Pucallpa.

A long night or quick flight: One of the Urquia brothers, Julio & Richie, both Ayahuasceros, will then pick up the collection and either put it on the 17-hours night bus to Tarapoto, or take it with them on the cross-Amazon "chicitito" domestic plane when they travel next.

The Finish line (almost): Kajsa collects the garments, then takes a moto taxi up the Andes mountain chain to San Antonio, hikes 40 min through the jungle and cross three rivers to reach our Amakaya HQ. Here, each piece is reviewed, washed, packaged, documented, and prepared for its continued journey.

Helping Hands: The last leg of the journey is achieved thanks to our extended Amakaya family -- our friends and guests who come for medicinal plant work with us. As we prefer to work around industrial, risky and costly international companies, and make sure that the money goes to hands that need it instead. Our helping hands bring parcels of embroideries with them as they return to Europe or the U.S and post them safely to you.

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