Ethica Accessories

SISTERS OF SAINT JOSEPH PERUVIAN PROJECT WINS THE GIFT AWARD 2006

As the Sisters of Saint Joseph celebrate their 25th anniversary of working alongside the poor in Peru, an industry award has recognized their success in supporting those in need through the sale of Peruvian products in Australia.

The Gift Awards Gala Dinner, presented by Reed Gift Fairs, took place on Friday 26 May at Sydney’s Doltone House, where the winners received their trophies before an audience of 200 retailers, manufacturers and designers.   The winners represent the best products, services andpeople in Australia’s $20 billion gift industry.

The Sisters of Saint Joseph Peruvian Project outdid other finalists to win the award for the Most Environmentally or Socially Responsible Product.  The twenty-six judges, who included Julia Zaetta, Editor of Better Homes and Gardens, and Laura Rhodes from the Body Shop were shown a selection of the SOSJ Peruvian Project’s stunning baby alpaca wraps and shawls that are sold in Australia.  They agreed that the wraps were not only winning product, given their exquisitely fine, soft quality, but also that the story behind the wraps is a rare and commendable one

The Sisters of Saint Joseph Peruvian Project Ltd is a non-profit company based at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney. Since 1985, Sisters of Saint Joseph have been working with impoverished communities in Peru. Their aim isto help the women in these communities find means of earning an income to combat the dreadful poverty they suffer. 

The Sisters have been very successful in achieving this.  They discovered that the women possess excellent knitting and weaving skills and so helped them to develop products that could be sold in Australia. They produce a range of handcrafts including woven cushion covers, table runners, hats and scarves, bags, purses and finger puppets, which are sold around Australia at markets and events as well as to retail stores.

The successful sale of these products has so far been able to provide women in these disadvantaged communities with continued stable employment.  They are overjoyed to have found a market overseas for their handcrafts and to finally be able to provide for their families and help themselves out of the vicious cycle of poverty. Profits are investedinto the workshops where the women can work safely and  in solidarity.  Machinery for the workshops has been purchased to expand the range of products that can be made and to meet market demand in Australia.

The Alpaca wraps represent another product line that the Sisters have developed; one which is not produced by the women themselves, but which generates a profit that is directed back to the communities.  The beautiful wraps are made in Lima, the capital of Peru, by a well established manufacturer of alpaca products that the Sisters have appointed.  The wraps have been chosen for the Australian market fortheir light weight and exceptional quality.  Alpaca is renowned for being a warm fibre suitable for cooler weather, yet it also has the quality of being light enough for use in summer months.  These wraps are available in a variety of colours and have proved extremely popular thanks to their beautiful soft feel which, together with their stunning quality, makes them unique and unparalleled in Australia.

The wraps met the strict judgment criteria of being an innovative and original product – they are unique in Australia. This is thanks to the quality of design and manufacture – some of the wraps are mixed withsilk to produce a very fine weave.  They have solid consumer appeal thanks to their good value, their exquisite feel and beautiful colours.

The Award for the Most Socially Responsible Product or Service recognizes the success the Sisters have had in alleviating some of the poverty and insecurity suffered by the women involved in the project.  They are committed to helping the women to help themselves. As members of the Fair Trade Association, they believe in offering better trading conditions to marginalized producers in developing countries and protecting their basic rights.  They pay fair wages to the women andensure they have good working conditions.

Winning this Award is a significant milestone for the project.  It is wonderful to see this innovative effort, one that brings together disadvantaged developing communities with the discerning Australian market, recognized and rewarded by the gift industry.

The SOSJ Peruvian Project now has the opportunity to publicise its win at six upcoming Reed Gift Fairs around the country.  It would like to thank Reed Gift Fairs and congratulate the other finalists and winners in all four categories.

For more information contact:

 Gina Bradley

Sales and Operations Manager

Ethica Accessories

12 Mount Street / PO Box 6315

North Sydney NSW 2059

Tel: +61 2 8912 2716

Fax: +61 2 8912 2798

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