Important Notice for EU Stores: These handcrafted toys are made in small batches and do not carry the CE mark. They should not be sold in regions where CE certification is required.

Meet the Women Knitters

In the Andes of Peru, near the shores of Lake Titicaca, knitting is a tradition passed down through generations. Mothers have long knitted warm clothing and small toys for their children.

Today, women artisans hand-knit each tiny finger puppet using a traditional three-needle technique. Their exceptional craftsmanship provides flexible work they can do from home while caring for their families.

No two hands knit quite the same way. Each woman knitter brings her own skill, creativity, and personal touch, making every playful puppet unique while carrying forward a treasured knitting tradition.

Simple Toys Spark the Imagination

Play encourages children to invent stories, solve problems and explore ideas using their creativity. Families are rediscovering the joy of simple handmade toys that don't require batteries or flashy buttons. Parents are looking for toys that support a child’s natural ability to imagine, explore, and turn the simplest thing into a world of their own.

As psychologist Peter Gray reminds us, “Children learn best when they are free to play… with materials that don’t prescribe what the play should be.” 

Why Fair Trade Matters

For our team at Lucuma Designs, Fair Trade is more than a business model. It's a way of life that guides our daily decisions and inspires us to keep learning and evolving.

It lives in the relationships we've built over many years with the artist partners we know personally. Together, we've grown through trust and a shared commitment to building sustainable livelihoods and a better future for their families and communities.

Fair Trade is about much more than creating jobs. Through creative collaboration and by encouraging our artist partners to continually refine their craft and excel at what they do, we've built handmade collections our clients have come to trust year after year.

Ultimately, Fair Trade reminds us that business can be a force for good when it's guided by shared values and meaningful connections.

Lucuma Designs has been a proud member of the Fair Trade Federation since 1999.