Carloina Reinhardt

Fashion businesses uses alpaca wool

An international business showcasing the work of rural Bolivian women and taking it to stylish boutiques across Europe has become a success story for determined entrepreneur Carolina Reinhardt.

A native of the landlocked country in central South America, which borders Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay and Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest, and Peru to the west, Reinhardt runs her business from her Ashford home.

Boutiques in Tenterden, Cranbrook and Hawkhurst are the latest to stock her unique designs, handmade from the coat of the alpaca.

The knitwear creations, which include jumpers, dresses and shawls have also proven popular when sold in outlets in Cologne, Bonn and Zurich, where Reinhardt has business and family connections.

This summer her work will be on show in London as the fashion industry shows off its new designs.

“I was born in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, but left when I was 17 to study fashion, first in Argentina, before moving to Virginia USA,” she said.

“I then lived in Europe before coming to England and establishing my business.”

At her home Reinhardt, director of CHK Fashion, designs her range, focusing on modern styling, shapes and colours.

Then, once or twice a year, she goes back to her home country and gets women from country communities – many of whom have had very hard lives - to make them.

“In Bolivia it is very common for women to be the victims of domestic violence, or to have their husbands leave them,” Reinhardt said.

“These women have no real prospects – so I wanted to change things for some of them.

“So they’re the people who knit, use looms and sew the garments.

“My aim has been to create sustainable employment, provide fair wages, respect labour laws and provide an adequate return and living conditions for these skilled craftswomen.

“I intend to make a difference to my home country by bringing some people out of poverty.”

Alpacas – which resemble small llamas - are kept in herds that graze on the level heights of the Andes of the north of Bolivia at an altitude of 3,500 m to 5,000 m above sea level, throughout the year.

Unlike the larger and stronger llamas, they were not bred to be beasts of burden, but were bred specifically for their wool.

Alpaca fiber is used for making knitted and woven items such blankets, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, a wide variety of textiles and ponchos in South America, and sweaters, socks, coats and bedding in other parts of the world. The fiber comes in more than 52 natural colors.

At carnival and celebration times they are decorated with ribbons and castanets and take pert in parades.

Around 250 women work on Reinhardt’s project, some crocheting, some knitting and some using hand looms.

“The Bolivian economy is in a bad way, even compared to the rest of the world,” said Reinhardt.

“I am trying to give people a measure of self-respect as well as employment. Some of these women may not be able to read or write but they are incredibly talented with their hands. I want to prove to the world that there is a lot of potential in Bolivia.”