Peguche, a small village near the larger town of Otavalo, is located in Ecuador's Northern Sierra province Imbabura. Most of Peguche's families work in the production of textiles. Although the people value family and community, there are clear distinctions in the level of economic prosperity from one household to the next.

Each family specializes in certain types of products, utilizing manually operated or machine- operated looms. The ability of each family unit to produce and sell is dependent on their accessibility to the market and the rate at which they complete each item.

Some of Peguche's families have established ties to outside markets, but most are dependent on the local trade in Otavalo's market, which only attracts large numbers on the weekends.

While the Otavalo market offers real exposure, families selling there must have their own transportation in order to get their goods to the selling location. Without private vehicles, families must pay for transportation which adds considerably to the cost of production in a marketplace where price range is limited.

Without the Otavalo market, families must sell items to middlemen who tend to give low values for the goods. So labor time, transportation, and limited exposure are all issues that confront the partners of INTO in Peguche as they work determinedly to support their families

INTO's role:

Within the village of Peguche many families are hindered from selling their products through more profitable means because of lack of financial resources. INTO gives these families an opportunity to sell their products directly from their homes, eliminating any transportation fees or middlemen while offering them a more reasonable price for their product.

INTO also collaborates with the artisans to structure their production patterns, developing the items they are strongest at producing to fit the demand of the market in the United States.

Many of these families rely on the sales of their crafts to tourists who either attend the market in Otavalo or make the trip out to Peguche. However, the number of items sold is often limited and does not provide for a dependable source of revenue.

INTO insures a more reliable income flow that allows families to budget, save and plan for the use of their revenue and resources. The security that INTO provides is even more essential for these families since the dollarization of the Ecuadorian currency in 1999 caused extreme changes in the economy limiting sales and the amount of work families can afford to produce. INTO affords families some measure of relief from the concern of changing markets.

Their Products:

Textile wares such as sweaters, scarves, tablecloths, hats, and tapestries are just a few of the various items artisans in Peguche make. They are made from materials as varied as wool, highly prized alpaca, cotton, and synthetic materials that are brought in from Quito, the capital city of Ecuador.

Each product requires different techniques and mechanical resources to complete. Many of the tapestries are mastered on manually operated looms where the artisan can manipulate the design. Other scarves are produced on mechanized looms. Items such as hammocks and embroidered shirts necessitate a series of tasks to complete each detail of the product.

To produce such crafts, many families incorporate the help of everyone to perform all the tasks. The products of INTO's partner families reveal the diversity of products that may exist within just one small community in Ecuador.