Celebrating craftsmanship, connection and tradition in the Andes of Peru
We discovered our toymakers high in the Andean highlands of southern Peru, in a small town known for one special thing — its exceptional handcrafted toys. It took time, curiosity and a few wrong turns to find it, but it was worth every moment. Within that community we met the artisans who now craft our beloved Alpaca Toys.
Jose is the maker of La Sierra Alpacas, Bears & Lions.
Jesus & Founder Sophia at his workshop, 2024.
Jose is the maker of La Sierra Luxe Bears & Dogs.
These men continue a long tradition of toy making that has been passed down through generations. Working from their family-run workshops, they transform natural, undyed Alpaca fleece into soft, soulful companions that carry warmth, character and story in every fibre.
Toy Craftsmanship With Meaning
Most toys on the market today are made from synthetic materials and plastics, mass-produced in factories where speed and cost outweigh quality and care. Our toys are the opposite. They are made slowly and intentionally, using traditional techniques that honour both the material and the maker.
Each piece is created from pure, natural Alpaca fleece, one of the world’s most sustainable and luxurious natural fibres. Every toy retains the original tones and textures of the Alpaca it came from, which means no two are ever the same. The process is lengthy and cannot be rushed, but the result is something special: a toy that celebrates the true beauty of nature and the soul of human craftsmanship.
Over the years, our artisans have also embraced gentle innovation, refining patterns, improving designs and investing in better tools to perfect every detail. Their workshops have grown and evolved, balancing modern improvements with deep respect for tradition.
Sustaining Communities and Heritage
Creating these toys does more than preserve an art form. It sustains entire communities. The workshops we partner with now employ local people from their towns, many of them young adults who might otherwise have to move hours away to larger cities in search of work.
By providing stable, fair employment close to home, these makers help families stay together and allow cultural traditions to continue thriving in their rightful place. Over the last five to six years, we’ve watched these small workshops expand, hire new team members, and build thriving, independent businesses that are shaping a more hopeful future.
We’ve shared meals with their families, celebrated milestones together, and watched their children grow alongside their craft. What began as a few orders has become a lasting partnership built on respect, trust and shared purpose, keeping ancient skills alive while creating meaningful opportunity in the present.
Guaranteed Smiles (For Everyone)
One of my favourite things about having a retail store for so many years was seeing people’s reactions the first time they picked up an Alpaca Toy. Their eyes softened, their smiles widened. There is something about the texture, the warmth and the quiet energy of these toys that is hard to put into words. It is an emotional connection, one you have to feel to understand.
Over time, we have heard so many heartwarming stories. Alpacas that join families on holidays, toys that get left with their grandparents for babysitting on the weekend, dogs that attend boardroom meetings, bears that are taken on adventures through the city, Alpacas that sit in therapy offices, and even toys that have their own Instagram accounts. Through play, imagination and love, each toy seems to take on a life of its own.
I will never forget the grown men who have stood in our store, eyes welling with tears, holding a bear that reminded them of a pet they had recently lost. These toys have a way of delighting children and awakening the inner child in adults. They are more than playthings. They are companions that carry comfort, memory and emotion. I have even heard them lovingly called my support animal.
The Heart of Handcrafted
Every toy we offer is a reflection of connection, between people, place and purpose. When you hold one, you hold a story of tradition, care and the quiet beauty of work made by hand.
When you choose to gift an Alpaca Toy this Christmas, you’re choosing to support handmade craftsmanship, Indigenous cultural heritage and a way of life built on quality over quantity. You’re also helping to sustain the families and communities who make these toys with such skill and love.
Because behind every stitch is a story and every story begins with a pair of hands in the mountains of Peru.
Each toy is handmade in small batches from natural Alpaca fleece. Once this Christmas shipment sells out, they won’t be restocked until March 2026.