Why Choose Amano?
We're inspired by the past but looking to the future.
Since 1988, we’ve been working closely with incredible artisans in South America, from Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia to provide ethically sourced, handcrafted, and fair-trade sweaters and knitwear. Fun Fact: on our swing tags you’ll find the name of the exact knitter who handknit your sweater.
‘A mano’ means ‘by hand’ in Spanish.
Over the last 40 years, we’ve worked closely with knitters from the remote region of Carchi, from the El Alto in Bolivia, and Lima in Peru to create collections that celebrate color lovers and free spirits who want to invest in clothing with a human connection.
Why Choose Alpaca Knitwear?
Alpaca wool knitwear is a great choice for those who want to be eco-conscious and want to support local communities. There’s a range of reasons why alpaca sweaters and cardigans are a positive choice:
- Comfort: The natural fibres of alpaca wool are known for their exceptional softness, and it is often compared to cashmere.
- Hypoallergenic: Alpaca wool lacks lanolin, which is the natural oil found in sheep’s wool, which can often cause allergic reactions in some people making alpaca the perfect fibre for sensitive skin.
- Warmth: Despite being lightweight, alpaca wool knitwear is warm, making it the ideal layering piece.
- Sustainability: Alpacas are often raised in sustainable environments, often at high altitudes where land is not suitable for agriculture. The animal also consumes less water and energy during natural fibre production, meaning that their wool production is more efficient and ethical compared to other animals.
Frequently Asked Question
Amano knitwear is ethically handmade and fair-trade, crafted by artisans in South America, primarily Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru, since 1988. Each piece is hand-knit, from high-quality alpaca or wool, and designed with vibrant colors and individual character. Fun fact: On the swing label the name of the knitter who made your piece, emphasizing the human connection in our fashion.
When it comes to answering this question, it is hard to say. There are multiple factors, such as the complexity of the design, whether it is the first time our knitters have worked with the pattern, and how we are measuring the time taken. However, along with the better quality yarn, the skill levels have increased exponentially. As these skills continue to improve, production increases and we are also able to charge more for the amano, and therefore pay more. We would say that a star cardigan, for example, will take around two days' work with a 7-hour day. It must be added that 2 days work can be spread over a couple of weeks, with the knitter attending to house work and other daily work that they would normally have to do. It is great work to have as they can pick it up and put it down when they please.
The best way to store alpaca knitwear is to store them flat, as this prevents stretching and distortion. You could also store your knitwear in breathable containers, avoiding airtight plastic, and ensure that you are protecting your alpaca knitwear from heat, sunlight and dust.
Yes, you can. However, we would advise washing your knitwear as little as possible - not only is this positive for the environment, but the fibres are intrinsically delicate and the process of washing can cause damage.
When you are washing your knitwear, it's best to hand-wash; however, if you choose to machine wash, you should use a washbag or pillow case, a soft cycle with a short duration, a delicate detergent and cold water. Avoid ringing or twisting the garment, and dry your sweater flat to prevent stretching, or spoiling the shape.
To prevent pilling, we would recommend washing your knitwear inside out on a gentle cycle. You should avoid over-washing or tumble drying, as this will lead to further pilling. If your knitwear does show signs of pilling, using a fabric shaver or lint roller is the best way to remove excess fabric. Repetitive rubbing against the garment will cause pilling, such as wearing a bag with a strap.
We have provided a sizing guide here for you to check your measurements. If you are still unsure, please feel free to contact our friendly team.
We dispatch from both the UK and Ecuador. For certain styles (especially our Amano star cardigan styles), we ship directly from Ecuador using couriers like FedEx, DHL, or UPS, with delivery typically taking 5-10 days to the USA and 7-12 days from the UK via Royal Mail.
For orders shipped from the UK (especially our new cotton range), we use Royal Mail for UK and the rest of the world. For the UK Standard Tracked Delivery (3-5 days, free over £100) and UK Express Delivery (1-2 working days). You'll receive email updates and can track your order. For the USA and the rest of the world from the UK, we use Royal Mail International tracked which will take 5 to 10 days. Should there be any issues with tariffs please contact us and we will pay for any excess charges incurred.
If you are not happy with your purchase for any reason, you can return it for a refund up to 21 days from receipt of goods. The returned product must be new, in perfect condition, and complete with original swing tags and packaging. For the USA we will ask you to return to an address within the country.