At the Peruvian end of this unique partnership are 280 women from two of the capital’s most populated districts, Tres de Mayo and Cerro Candella. The original group came together in 1998 to use their unique sewing skills to help improve the living standards of their families.

In Australia TIKA is headed by fashion designer and creator of the successful Skipping Girl label, Hayley Allen. The company has only recently been launched. Its aim is to combine the Peruvian women’s traditional knitting and crochet techniques with Allen’s own contemporary design skills to create a new and original range of lifestyle products.

Says Allen, “I loved what the women were doing and thought that if we could combine our two very different set of skills we could produce something new and exciting. Plus, it will provide additional support and market opportunities for the group which is why we kicked this thing off in the first place”.

As well as overseeing the creation of TIKA in Australia, Allen has the responsibility of guiding the company’s creative direction.

“TIKA will offer a wide range of fun, custom-made products. Our target market won’t be defined by age but by a sense of style and humour.”

Allen has just finished designing TIKA’s first range of homeware products, and kids and women’s wear. The collection includes beanies, scarves, leggings, soft toys, blankets, tea-cosies, hot-water bottle covers and several other items that wouldn’t look out of place on a CWA stall in Milan- assuming Italy has a Country Women’s Association.

TIKA will introduce itself to Australia in August, at Melbourne’s LIFEINSTYLE trade fair. it will become available in a small but very select group of dedicated stores.

Expect TIKA to be trading on-line in August
©2008 Hayley Allen . home . sitemap . contact . website by model citizen