Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

An 80m runway, expected to enter the Guinness Book of Records due to its size, has been installed at Koricancha temple, and it will be the stage of the central fashion show of "Cusco, Always in Fashion".

Boris Gómez Luna, President of Regional Chamber of Tourism of Cusco said that the long runway has been equipped on the four sides of the Koricancha (Temple of Sun), which combines Inca, colonial and republican elements.

"This runway will be 45 cms high and more than 80 mts long, never seen before in any fashion show in the world. We are making the coordinations to register it in the Guinness Record Book," he said.

Gómez Luna pointed out that Koricancha has been equipped to receive more than 1,200 guests, and two giant screens has been installed on Santo Domingo Place and El Sol avenue to allow guests to watch the show close by. The President of the chamber added that up to 4,000 guests are expected to attend the event.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

Andina

Cusco will become the fashion capital of Latin America when the “Cusco always fashion” show takes place in October featuring the best of young Peruvian designers' work, announced Wednesday the head of the Regional Directorate for Foreign Trade and Tourism (Dircetur), Victor Hugo Perez.

"One of the main objectives of this event is to turn Cusco into the design and fashion capital of Latin America, we aim to create a different and unusual tourist attraction," the tourism official explained to Andina news agency.

The idea is to mix pre-Columbian with contemporary designs, non-traditional, in order to promote the Peruvian style.

The organization is considering requesting the participation of at least ten well-known national designers with international experience, as well as different models interested in appearing on the catwalk along with other local models from Cusco.

Several fashion shows are expected to take place in different parts of the Imperial City.

However, the main event will be held in Koricancha, where the best designs will be exhibited.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The 2009 Food-Expo fair, to take place from September 9th to 11th in Lima, Peru. may generate deals worth US$ 30 million to Peruvian entrepreneurs, according to Colombia’s Corferias.

“This is a very important figure and we may beat it in the upcoming fairs,” said Andres Lopez, the General Director of Corferias.

Lopez highlighted that food sector is one of the most important of Peru due, thus this fair will represent the exportable offer in Peru, with the participation of 160 exhibitors.

More than 7,000 professional buyers worldwide were notified, and 300 have confirmed their participation in the business roundtables of this event.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

New infant and children's clothing company, Alpima, has recently debuted their fall and winter lines with a collection of stylish wear for young kids. The collection can be found on the recently-launched BabyAlpima.com.

By happenstance, Jose Sierra has become a fashion magnate of sorts that started with a trip to Peru, but turned out to be much more for him.

"I went out to Peru for New Years and I noticed the quality of the alpaca wool they had there," Sierra began. "I fell in love with it. I brought back some samples and that's how we got started."

Sierra's company, Alpima LLC, and its website, www.BabyAlpima.com, showcases what can be done with alpaca and pima cotton. The site has a catalog of well-made, high quality baby, toddler and children's clothes, all of which have been made from the materials that Sierra fell for.

While the site began in October 2008, Sierra immediately had a corresponding fall and winter line to show people, which include long-sleeve body suits for infants, onesies, stylish coats, mock sweaters and hoodies.

The coats and hoodies come in an array of bright colors that would typically conflict with a "fall/winter" look, but are generally attractive to young kids.

"These colors (bright blues, magentas, etc.) stood out on the color wheel," explained Sierra. "We want to liven it up a bit for the kids and the styles and colors in our line are far different than what you would find for any other brand."

The unique attributes of Alpima have resulted in Sierra's line being one of kind and, as is such, he's found a way to explain the virtues of the materials he uses.

"We want to educate people on what alpaca and Pima are," he said. "Some people don't have an idea about the animals or how the wool or cotton is treated, so we set up a blog."

The blog, www.BabyAlpima.net, will serve as an informational guide for all things Alpima, which will also include the planned spring and summer lines that Sierra has planned for early spring 2009.

Though Sierra's Alpima brand is new to the fashion industry, he's certain that through their unique vision and material, they'll be able to stand out from the rest.

"Our designs are practical," he said. "We keep up with the latest styles and we also welcome feedback from customers, parents and grandparents to cater to what the people want as well."

Alpima, LLC. and BabyAlpima.com is operated by Jose Sierra. Alpima's materials come directly from Peru and their baby line is from 0-24 month, while their children's line is from 2 to 7 years.

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

World renowned Peruvian fashion producer Fredy Granda, whose work has graced the pages of publications such as British GQ, Maxim, British Vogue, Bazaar, Men’s Health, and Elle has organized another trip to Peru.

On this occasion, the famous producer/photographer will return to the Andean country for Machu Picchu Bikini Peru 2008, an event which is to bring together top models from England and the United States.

Granda and his group of one dozen models have planned a week long trip to the Imperial city of Cusco, which will not only include tours through Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo and Sacsayhuamán but also a photo shoot in Urubamba Valley.

"This time we wanted to include English beauty to see how it works in our Inca landscapes," said Granda, affirming he was happy with the ways Peru's natural wonders were being promoted in foreign countries.

Among the models that will visit Peru are Miss Bikini Nat Daly, Victoria's Secret model Lindy Kennedy and models from Maxim magazine.

Granda also revealed he talked about the trip to Machu Picchu with American celebutante Paris Hilton.

"A couple of weeks ago we were with Paris at the avant premiere of her show, which *Trujillano Lázaro Gallardo also participated in, and invited her," said Granda.

"She's really interested in visiting Cusco; I hope we work out a deal."

*A person from the region of Trujillo in northern Peru

Brazilian designer Salvatore Laureano, who has designed for the prestigious Italian fashion house Versace, will arrive in Puno (city in southern Peru) on October 22 to evaluate the work of local textile artisans and the alpaca designs of this department for the 2009-2010 collection.

Laureano will stay in our country until October 26, reported today Norberto Giurfa Morán, head of the project Fortalecimiento del Cluster Artesanal de Puno (Strengthening of the Artisan Cluster of Puno), which seeks to raise the income and employment level of Puno artisans of the textile and ceramics sectors.

After arriving in the city of Juliaca, the designer will receive the keys to the city by local authorities, Giurfa told Andina news agency.

In the city of Puno, Laureano will attend a traditional costumes exhibition and will meet with distinguished local artisans to evaluate designs in alpaca fiber made by native labor, as well as to pick up some local designs for fashion shows, Giurfa said.

In Lima, the Brazilian designer will hold a meeting with producers associated with the Peru’s Exporters Association (Adex) and the Peruvian Institute of Handicrafts (Inpart).

News source: ANDINA