Our story

PachaMama is the continuation of an international cooperation project carried out by the late cooperant Michel Marceau and the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI). From 2003 to 2005, the project supported the Peruvian Aymara Indigenous community in its social, economic, and cultural development efforts.

In 2004, Maude Fodor, a friend of Michel Marceau and also a cooperant, decided to join her efforts with his and to expand the scope of action to Quebec. Maude therefore began the fair-trade marketing of the handicrafts made by our partners. At that time, we sold our artisan partners’ knitwear at festivals, schools, and universities.

In 2007, by a fortunate coincidence, we were approached by alpaca breeders from the Eastern Townships in Quebec. These first Quebec breeders were delighted to find authentic, high-quality, 100% alpaca products. This is how we began distributing our products to Canadian alpaca breeders.

This project in Peru began with international cooperation and today stands as a wonderful example of the pursuit of a shared dream between North–South partners: giving a human and cultural face to international trade!

Michel Marceau, my mentor!

On December 31, 2015, Michel Marceau left for the “new world,” as he used to say!

It was Michel who supported the artisans in the creation of the Arte-Aymara Association, our main partner. He was the one who encouraged them to push beyond their limits and create their own association to defend and promote their handmade knitwear. But be careful—Michel didn’t tell them what to do. He did it in his own way: by working on the self-esteem of each of these strong women who had long been kept in the shadows. This is why the artisans called him the father of Arte-Aymara, for he always believed that these women could succeed where many thought it impossible. He invested an incredible amount of time and boundless energy in developing their skills so that this dream could become a reality.

It is into this dream that I, Maude Fodor, stepped. Today, with great pride and humility, I continue to nurture the relationships that were built. In a way, I have taken up the torch. And one knitted piece at a time, I will try to make our world a little fairer and more united, just as Michel wished.

Thank you, Michel! — Maude.