The Manos Story
Manos Del Uruguay was
created in 1968 looking for a way to help women in
Uruguay’s countryside to
generate income.
When developing their
products they looked to the
natural materials that they had to hand, wool in
particular, and also to use the traditional skills that they had inherited.
They spin, dye, knit and weave the products that are later sold in the worlds most sophisticated markets.
Today, Manos is a co-operative of 400 women, but during peak export periods, they are working with as many as 1200 women.
Their Aim
Manos Del Uruguay is a non for profit organisation, owned by rural women.
Their drive is the co-ops most important social mission: providing job opportunities for women in the countryside. Making it possible for familes to stay together in their
villages rather than migrating to the main cities that have a poorer quality of life.
for over 40 years, Manos has insisted in enhancing the women’s role in their society, providing them with economic independence, but also
opportunities for personal growth.
You can tell the provenance of each hank of yarn that they make, because the person who dyed it has also signed
the label. When you purchase Manos’ yarns, you know
exactly who is benefiting from the sale.
At the same time, their
procedures involve transparent management and
commercial relations to deal fairly and respectfully with trading partners.
Manos products
manos colours are their trademark. the secret lies in the patient kettle dyeing in small pots using precise colour recipes.
This crafted process creates the sybtle nuances in their striated colours as well as the fantastic shading of the space dyed.
Manos and the WFTO
In 2009, after a long and exhaustive evaluating process, Manos del Uruguay was admitted as a full member of WFTO (Word Fair Trade Organization), the global representative body of over 350 organizations committed to 100% Fair Trade.
WFTO members are organizations differentiated by their 100% Fair Trade commitment to eradicate poverty through sustainable economic development; pioneering social and environmental policy and practice and continual reinvestment in marginalized artisans, farmers and producer communities in some of the most fragile places on earth, practices that Manos del Uruguay has been applying for 40 years.
Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South.
The goal of the WFTO is to enable small producers to improve their livelihoods and communities through sustainable Fair Trade, by delivering market access through policy, advocacy, campaigning, marketing and monitoring. A goal that Manos has been pursuing from its foundation, making possible for craftswomen
to settle permanently in the localities where they live, thus preventing rural population drift and increase the value of the role of women and their inclusion in a country project.
As a stockist of Manos Del Uruguay products, you can use the WFTO logo for promotion of the products in any advertising or marketing and on websites. We encourage you to promote this wonderful achievement in this way. There are guidelines for using these logos which are available from your Artesano representative.
For more information about WFTO visit http://www.wfto.com
