MANOS DEL URUGUAY - Ruana Praga - 100% wool

Manos del Uruguay is a non-profit social organization which, since 1968, has provided jobs for craftswomen living in Uruguay rural areas. In Manos, garments are designed and knitted -mainly with wool yarns- for the local market and for renowned international brand-name clothes Manos del Uruguay defends and promotes Uruguayan identity, being part of the weave that constitutes the essence of our country, where culture and tradition are mixed in an exchange that is reflected in each one of our knitted products. During 2009, and after a long and exhaustive evaluation process, Manos del Uruguay was accepted as a member of the World Fair Trade Organization WFTO, which operates in 70 countries and brings together more than 350 organizations, 100% committed to Fair Trade. This achievement acknowledges Manos del Uruguay mission of eradicating poverty through sustainable economic growth, enabling craftspeople to improve the quality of their craft products, so that, in this way, they can continue their personal development. We, the craftswomen, are the owners of Manos del Uruguay, and we are part of a non-profit Association, the objective of which is to generate work for rural women, allowing us to stay in our towns, earn our living and develop ourselves as human beings. Manos del Uruguay is an organization made up of Cooperatives of craft manufacturing and a Service Center, and its the main objectives are: To generate and develop work sources for women in the interior of the country Provide economic, social and cultural opportunities to all its members. Value handicrafts and the work of artisans. Manos del Uruguay is run by a Managing Committee made up of representatives of the Cooperatives and representatives of the Adhering Members, who are people who voluntarily cooperate with the organization. We are grouped in 13 cooperatives that bring together 250 craftswomen distributed in 19 localities in the interior of the Uruguay. Cooperatives have their central offices in cities and towns of the Interior of the country, and, in addition, there are groups of craftswomen operating in different localities, more or less far away. Meanwhile the Service Center is located in Montevideo, and 90 employees approximately work there, to provide the Cooperatives with different services such as products design, supply of materials and raw materials, technical training, manufacturing and tool maintenance, sale of production, financing, advising and training for the cooperatives directors, and, among others, advising for those who perform administrative functions.