Who We Are
Exceptional products are created by exceptional people
For over 30 years, we've partnered with international brands to develop high-quality knitwear and handcrafted products combining innovation, craftsmanship, and attention to detail. Our network of artisans, technicians, and textile specialists across Peru blends traditional techniques with modern production—from advanced electronic knitting to hand knitting, crochet, weaving, and artisan finishes.
We're committed to preserving ancestral textile techniques, supporting artisan communities, and creating meaningful opportunities throughout Peru. Every garment reflects not just design and quality, but the hands, knowledge, and dedication behind it. Today, brands worldwide trust us for authenticity, flexibility, sustainability, and long-term partnerships built on trust.
The people behind every stitch, every garment, and every partnership.
Why Peru
An incredible center for artisan textile magic
There is simply no place in the world where you can find such a diverse array of unique, artisan-made apparel. Trading Ventures has cultivated an unmatched network of artisans, designers, and creators over several decades.
When working with us, you gain access to the most skilled and most diverse artisan supply chain in Latin America. We facilitate and manage production with full transparency — returning as high a percentage of cost as possible to the artisans who make each piece.
Artisan Communities Across PeruTechniques
Hand Crochet
Hand crochet is one of our most artisanal and specialized techniques. Working with highly skilled artisans across Peru, we create unique pieces that showcase exceptional creativity, craftsmanship, and attention to detail. Many of our crochet garments require between three and four weeks of work to complete, making them true handcrafted pieces. Due to the time and expertise involved, these styles are often developed as limited editions for brands seeking something truly distinctive.
Hand Knit
Hand knitting remains at the heart of our heritage. Through our network of artisan communities, we produce beautifully handcrafted garments that combine comfort, quality, and timeless design. Each piece reflects generations of knitting knowledge while preserving traditional techniques that continue to provide meaningful employment opportunities across Peru.
Handwoven
Using traditional pedal looms, our artisans create belts, bag straps, trims, and decorative textile elements that bring authenticity and character to every collection. This technique allows us to develop unique patterns, textures, and color combinations while preserving ancestral weaving traditions that have been passed down through generations.
Flat Bed Hand Knitting Machine
Our flat bed hand knitting machines offer the perfect balance between craftsmanship and flexibility. This technique allows us to create a wide variety of stitch structures, textures, and customized developments while maintaining the artisanal quality that defines our products. It is particularly suitable for specialty knitwear requiring versatility and attention to detail.
Electronic Knitting Machine
Our electronic knitting machines range from 3gg to 14gg, enabling us to produce everything from chunky winter sweaters to lightweight fine-gauge garments. By combining advanced technology with technical expertise and careful quality control, we deliver precision, consistency, and scalable production while maintaining the premium standards our customers expect.
Materials
Peru's premium natural fibres
Peru is home to an extraordinary range of locally produced, premium natural apparel fibres — each with unique characteristics that set them apart from alternatives sourced elsewhere.
One of the finest fibres on the planet. Pima cotton fibres are significantly longer than conventional varieties, allowing them to maintain shape, hold colour, and remain soft for longer without pilling.
Known as the perfect cold-weather fibre. Peruvian alpacas are raised free-range by small family herders in the highlands, where they are an integral part of the ecosystem. Unlike cashmere goats, alpacas help regenerate plant growth rather than destroy it.
A high-quality cotton native to Peru that combines durability with softness, making it a top choice for all types of garments. Tanguis is prized for its resilience and smooth hand feel.
Sourced from the Peruvian highlands at over 4,000 metres above sea level. Derived from Corriedale and Merino sheep, this wool is exceptionally fine yet durable — unlike highland wools found anywhere else in the world.
An Andean fiber considered one of the finest and most exclusive in the world. Its collection follows certified, sustainable practices that protect the animals and support local communities. The fiber is handselected and carefully graded to ensure purity, softness, and full traceability throughout the process. The result is an exceptional material, lightweight, warm, and perfectly suited for highquality, responsibly crafted pieces.
Fair Trade
Fair Trade Certified since 2020
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Fair Trade is more than a certification for us—it's a commitment that has guided our work for decades. Our 2020 certification validates our dedication to ethical practices, fair wages, safe working conditions, and transparency.
We invest in meaningful projects that strengthen collaboration with artisans and communities across Peru, while preserving traditional craftsmanship and creating lasting social impact. Today, Fair Trade remains fundamental to who we are and the sustainable future we're building together.
Competitive pay returned directly to artisans and their communities.
Recycling, water efficiency, and teaching suppliers sustainable practices.
Trained inspectors actively monitor all supplier sites for compliance.
Full documentation and formalised supplier and client relationships.
Workshops in administration, accounting, and quality control.
Policies enforced across race, gender, religion, and all other grounds.
Supporting disadvantaged producers and communities by promoting fair and sustainable market access.
Operating with openness and integrity, ensuring clear communication and responsible management.
Building relationships based on respect, trust, and adherence to agreements, with timely payments and equitable conditions.
Actively sharing Fair Trade values and fostering awareness among consumers and partners.
Transparency
Where your money goes
Part of our mission is to facilitate production as transparently as possible — returning the highest percentage of cost to the artisans who make each product.
Our Team
The people behind Trading Ventures
For over two decades, our team has lived and worked alongside Peru's artisan communities — building relationships rooted in trust, craft, and shared purpose.
April Borda is the founder and CEO of Trading Ventures. Originally from England, she arrived in Peru in 1973 and was captivated by the richness of Andean textiles and crafts. Recognizing the potential of Peruvian weaving, she developed a small collection that secured one of her first major orders with Bloomingdale's during the boom of ethnic fashion.
With over 40 years of experience in the development and export of sustainable artisanal fashion, April has specialized in handknits, crochet, alpaca, and premium natural fibers. Throughout her career she has worked with renowned brands and designers such as Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Polo Ralph Lauren, Carolina Herrera, and Ulla Johnson, among others.
Trading Ventures was born out of the need to support artisans who possessed great talent but lacked the structure needed to export their products. From the very beginning, the company has set itself apart by combining high-quality handcrafted work with rigorous quality control standards, ethical production, and sustainability.
Javier joined Trading Ventures as a managing partner in 2024, bringing his expertise in business processes, administration, and restructuring. He reorganized processes and reduced costs to achieve stability and social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
From 2018 to 2020, during his time as an advisor, he was instrumental in obtaining the company's first FAIR TRADE certification, a key certification that ensures Trading Ventures, along with its partners, weavers, and suppliers, adheres to practices that respect principles of fairness, transparency, environmental stewardship, and others.
A graduate in Economics with a specialization in Finance, Administration, Processes, and Costs, he has over 30 years of experience in manufacturing, retail, banking and finance, microenterprises, corporate clients, and capital markets.
Lorena Ramírez leads the international commercial strategy of Trading Ventures, driving the company's growth and the development of relationships with premium fashion brands in the United States, Europe, and other global markets.
She has over 10 years of experience in the fashion and retail industries, as well as 8 years of professional experience in Europe, where she held leadership positions in technology and international business companies. Her expertise combines business development, brand management, market expansion, and strategic leadership.
Lorena studied Fashion Business and holds an MBA from Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts London), one of the most renowned institutions in the world for fashion and creativity. Her profile integrates a strong international commercial vision with a deep understanding of the fashion industry, allowing her to connect Trading Ventures' artisanal and production capabilities with the needs of global brands.
Marita Núñez is a Business Administrator with experience in human resources, international trade, textile export, and commercial management. She began her professional career in the retail sector, developing skills in people management, communication, and teamwork, which she later complemented with experience in merchandising, logistics, export coordination, and international client service.
Her professional experience includes positions at textile companies such as MGF Sourcing and Peru Fashions, where she deepened her knowledge of the fashion industry, product development, and international markets.
She currently serves as Key Account Manager at Trading Ventures, a company specialized in the export of alpaca garments, contributing to the development of commercial relationships and the promotion of high-quality Peruvian products in international markets.
Karen Lung is a Key Account Manager at Trading Ventures, where she manages product development, production, and commercial relationships with international fashion brands. Her work focuses on efficiently coordinating client needs with internal teams, ensuring high quality standards and compliance.
She studied Fashion Marketing at the Universidad de Palermo (Argentina) and Fashion Design at Chio Lecca (Peru). She has over nine years of experience in the textile and fashion industry, working with international clients in the areas of product development and commercial management.
Prior to joining Trading Ventures, she was part of Textile Sourcing Company (TSC), PSG, and TSK. Throughout her career she has worked with recognized brands such as Lands' End, Kith, Rag & Bone, and ATM Collection.
Specialized in customer service and problem-solving, she combines solid commercial experience with a passion for trends, product development, and the creative process behind each collection.
Sampling & Production
Timelines & the production process
We begin by sending yarn swatches and stitch ideas based on the client's inspirations. We have bilingual tech packs available — and can translate your existing formats for faster, clearer communication.
Standard turnaround using stock yarn. Longer if special programming or graphing is required.
Custom colorways require 30–40 days of yarn manufacture before sampling can begin.
Production yarn manufacture, plus a minimum of 40 additional days for cut-and-make.
Complex hand-knit and crochet orders require 60 days minimum from order placement to completion.
Full-time QC experts and knitting specialists on-site at all production centres throughout the run.
Clients receive weekly QC reports. Any issues are immediately flagged and resolved to protect delivery dates.
Production Workflow
Choose materials, finalise design direction, and create technical pack.
Yarn procurement, proto sample, SMS/photo sample, and client approval.
PO placed, production yarn purchased, PP sample approved, size set checked in Lima.
Weekly QC reports, final QC & packing, documents prepared, order ships.
Payment Terms
Sales conditions & payment terms
Due to our commitment to giving clients the best possible pricing — and our commitment to paying artisans promptly upon delivery — we work with advance payments and short net terms.
Getting Started
Ready to begin?
The best way to start is simply to reach out. Share your design inspirations, target price points, and desired quantities — we'll take it from there.
We will send yarn swatches and stitch ideas based on your direction, and can work with your existing tech pack formats or provide our own bilingual templates.
Fibre and garment testing is not included in FOB/FCA pricing. If testing is required, we can arrange this through certified laboratories in Peru. Costs will be invoiced separately.
We offer design assistance including trend research, stitch development, and yarn sourcing. We constantly seek new techniques and stitches to keep collections fresh.
Get in Touch
Let's work together
Whether you're looking for handcrafted Peruvian textiles, a fair trade partner, or custom artisan pieces — we'd love to hear from you.
Victor Bazul 179, Santa Catalina Lima 15034, Peru
(511) 715-1120
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