Amano means 'by hand' in spanish hence our hand logo, The company was started in 1988 by Michelle and James whilst teaching and traveling in South America. After trekking through Brazil,Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador the pair stumbled across some wonderful chunky handknits in Ecuador. The sweaters were not unique but they were something extraordinary in design and colour. So, the pair bought what they could afford on a travelers budget and returned to the UK to sell them at the Portobello and Camden markets,both very lively street markets in London. In no time at all, James was returning to SA to replenish supply as the the London street culture at that time embraced the knitwear as fashion items. Amano sweaters were seen everywhere from selling in Hobbs and Libertys to making television debuts or on sweaty dancers in London clubs. From its infancy to today, amano had something individual to offer people looking for an alternative to prescribed fashion.

The company prides itself on offering something unusual and different to customers using traditional hand-crafted techniques in a world where mass production and big brands are prolific; to give something unique in today's world of fashion. Colour and texture is a big theme for amano knitwear. Over the years the business has grown into a company offering 2 comprehensive collections a year of knitwear,accessories and clothing, mainly selling to small independent boutiques and specialty department stores.

In 1990, the company teamed up with the creative genius of Yumiko Suzuki who is based in Bolivia. Yumiko uses knitters in the Altiplano region of Bolivia, an inhospitable part of the world at 14,000 feet above sea level(4000 meters) to provide a secure means of income for them to supplement their traditional way of living. Amano knitwear became unique in its design and production elements and expanded its client list to include customers in Europe and the USA.

Amano have introduced new yarns over the years, offering knitwear in recycled hemp and denim, cotton, organic cotton, cotton linens, wool and the luxurious alpaca blends; almost all yarns being sourced in South America.

Buying an amano sweater or garment from Bolivia is the end of a process that takes the wearer to the heart of the Andes. One must remember that Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in the world with a very undeveloped economy, where political stability is dependent on the generosity of the powerful nations of the west. amano and Yumiko have established a brand of knitwear despite these limitations that is an expression of love and character.


Our philosophy
We make unique, exciting, beautiful knitwear, accessories and garments with a soft handle and texture, showing a commitment to the development of new ideas. Our products are authentically sourced, supporting cottage industry and artisans in developing countries.


Designers
Yumiko Suzuki, a young qualified lawyer and amateur jazz singer, went to South America 25 years ago as a student, stopping in La Paz, Bolivia. She worked doing various jobs in La Paz before she saw the potential of the indigenous skills around her. She carried on the ancient art of hand spinning wool, introduced new colours and designs and with an understanding of the people she put together a collection of new exciting knitwear with a unique look. Yumi continues to live in La Paz with her family and has a community of devoted artisans who work with her. Her inspiration for her knitwear comes from the environment she lives in and from her travels back to Japan and Europe.

Amano has and will continue to work with freelance designers to harness their energy,ideas and enthusiasm to bring new and exciting products to the marketplace. If you would like to talk to us about design please contact us at sales@foreveramano.com.


Our Woolly Friends
We use 4 different types of wool from native south american animals.

1. VICUNA (Vicugna Vicugna)
The smallest and most beautiful of all South American camelids, the vicuna still roams wild in the Andean highlands and is a species that is custodied by local peasant communities. The vicuna produces the finest fiber in the world which is why, in the 19th century, it was hunted down practically to the point of extinction. Today, the vicuna is a protected species and numbers have increased substantially.

2. GUANACO (LamaGuanicoe)
This large-sized, cinnamon-coloured camelid known for its enormous strength, roams wild and adapts easily to both coastal and highland environments ranging from Peru to Patagonia. The species is currently protected by international law. Ancient Andean cultures used it as a source of food and clothing and in the Peruvian highlands it was actually domesticated and genetically engineered to produce the llama.

3. ALPACA (Lama pacos)
This camelid roams the Peruvian Andes, its original habitat, and produces the longest fiber with the broadest colour range between white and black. There are two main species: the long, silky-fibered Suri and the shorter, wavier-fibered Huacaya. The extraordinary warmth and softness of both fibers were a source of inspiration for the development of the Andean textile industry, particually during Inca times. Today, this extraordinary fibre plays a key role in the fashion industry.

4. LLAMA (Lama glama)
Similar in size to the guanaco, the llama is a symbol of strength and was domesticated hundreds of years ago by ancient Peruvian civilizations which attributed it with magic and religious significance. They used its fibre, consumed its meat and used it to carry their products along the interminable Inca trails. There are two species: the long fibered Ccacu and the short ibered Ccara, both display a variety of colours and attributes. Llamas are still bred by sheperds along the entire Andean range, but primarily in Bolivia and Peru.