Ethica Accessories

Ethica Accessories is the trading name of the Sisters Of St Joseph Peruvian Project, an initiative that provides employment and income for hundreds of women and their families living in some of the poorest areas of Peru, South America.

The Sisters of St Joseph have established cooperatives in Lima, Pitumarca and Tarma to train and equip women in producing accessories for sale in Australia. The women are provided with alpaca wool, knitting needles, training and benefit from direct and fair payment from the sale of their work. 100% of the profit from the sale of Ethica products helps fund the Sisters of St Joseph's work in Peru.

We at ibu are particularly impressed with the Ethica products being made in the Pitumarca region, a remote village two hours from Cusco. The Sisters of St Joseph have established a workshop in the region that provides income for women in a mountainous area with few or no employment opportunities. The women periodically visit the workshop to pick up supplies and to receive payment for the beautiful scarves, and hats that they are able to knit in their homes allowing them to care for their children while they work.

We are not alone in our accolades for Ethica, they have been the winners of the illustrious Reed Gift Award for "Most Socially Responsible Product" in 2006 and 2007.

Ethica Accessories is a member of the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand.

View Ethica's range