Andes – Two Sisters, One Legacy
What connects QUITO and LA PAZ? Both scarves bear the name of an Andean capital, both are hand-crocheted – and both originated from personal journeys I took along the South American mountain range. Unlike the other scarves in my collection, which are machine-made from premium quality cashmere, QUITO and LA PAZ are small artisanal unique pieces. Their names, their patterns, their mood – all of it came about during the journey. Together they form the Andean Duo: a tribute to two cities that have deeply shaped me.
Where the journey began
Some journeys change how you see the world. My journey through the Andes changed how I see fabric.
It began in Quito. A city at 2,850 meters, squeezed between volcanoes, bathed in that distinctive Andean light – clear, high, almost white. I saw women sitting in market squares, intertwining wool in patterns that their grandmothers had already created. Colors that tasted of sunshine. Lines that looked like mountains.
Weeks later, a bit further south: La Paz. A city that is different. Higher. Quieter. More mysterious. It lies in a gorge, surrounded by the eternal snows of Illimani, and it demands that one slow down. There I found the other half – deeper tones, denser patterns, a different mood of beauty.
Back in Switzerland, it was clear: these two cities had to become two scarves. Not one. Two. Like two sisters.
What is the Andean Duo?
The Andean Duo consists of two hand-crocheted scarves: QUITO and LA PAZ. Both are made from pure premium cashmere and are patiently crafted loop by loop by hand. The materials come from the world's best cashmere regions – Inner Mongolia and Ningxia in China, where the cashmere goat has been native for centuries and the yarn is processed to its finest quality. However, the design, the names, the patterns, and the color palettes originated during my travels through Ecuador and Bolivia. Thus, a scarf is created that is woven from two worlds: from Asia's oldest cashmere craftsmanship and from the textile imagery of the Andes.
QUITO – The Light
QUITO is the scarf for the brighter hours.
The city of Quito is located almost directly on the equator but at a high altitude. This combination creates a light that cannot be found anywhere else: warm, yet clear. Golden yellow in the morning, rosé in the evening, and at noon, that shimmering brightness that only thin mountain air can produce.
The scarf carries precisely this feeling. QUITO is light in appearance, bright in color, soft in mood. It is the companion for long walks in the autumn light, for the first coffee on the terrace, for days when you feel free yet secure.
Worn over a linen shirt in spring or fine knitwear in winter, QUITO becomes a quiet statement: no logo, no loudness. Just quality that feels like a second skin.
LA PAZ – The Depth
LA PAZ is different. Those who know the city know: it doesn't reveal itself immediately.
Located at an altitude of 3,500 to 4,000 meters, La Paz is a city of contrasts. Dazzling during the day, cool and quiet at night. The surrounding mountains carry snow that never melts. And there is a kind of beauty there that you only understand on second glance – deeper, quieter, more dignified.
The LA PAZ scarf carries this feeling within it. The colors are earthier, the mood introspective, the warmth palpable. It is made for quiet evenings, for journeys to the north, for moments when you wear warmth not as comfort, but as an attitude.
LA PAZ goes with black coats, cognac-colored leather, navy knitwear. It is a scarf that envelops without hiding.
Why exactly these two scarves are hand-crocheted
The other scarves in my collection are machine-made in premium quality – clean, precise, in a workmanship that I have personally carefully selected. But QUITO and LA PAZ are special. They are hand-crocheted loop by loop.
Why?
Because some stories cannot be told by machine. A journey through the Andes is not a straight line – it is rhythm, breath, pause. That's exactly what hand-crocheting does. Each scarf becomes a slightly unique piece, with the unmistakable character that only human hands can create. A hand-crocheted scarf made of pure cashmere requires many hours of concentrated work – and it is precisely this time that makes it a piece that you wear for years, for decades.
QUITO and LA PAZ are therefore not mass-produced. They are small, slow pieces in a fast world.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Andean Duo
What exactly distinguishes QUITO and LA PAZ? QUITO is bright, light, and made for sunnier moods – inspired by Ecuador's capital on the equator. LA PAZ is deep, earthy, and ideal for cooler moments – inspired by Bolivia's high-altitude mountain city. Both are made from pure premium cashmere and both are hand-crocheted.
Where does the material come from? The cashmere used comes from the world's most renowned cashmere regions in China, especially Inner Mongolia and Ningxia. Cashmere processing has centuries of tradition there and produces the finest fiber qualities in the world.
Where are the scarves made? Production takes place in China – in specialized manufactures for premium cashmere. QUITO and LA PAZ are hand-crocheted there. The other scarves in the collection are machine-made in premium quality.
What comes from the Andes? The inspiration: names, patterns, color palettes, and moods. These elements emerged during my travels through Ecuador and Bolivia – in market squares, in mountain villages, in the light between the volcanoes.
How do I care for a hand-crocheted cashmere scarf? Hand wash in cold water with wool detergent, dry flat, never wring. With proper care, a cashmere scarf becomes more beautiful over years – not older.
Can I wear both scarves as a set? Yes – they are designed as a duo. Many customers wear QUITO in the brighter months and LA PAZ in autumn and winter. Others combine them throughout the year depending on their outfit and mood.
Two sisters, one legacy
Some things you buy because they are beautiful. Others because they are useful. And then there are those few pieces you wear because they tell a story.
QUITO and LA PAZ belong to the latter category. They are not seasonal goods. They are not loud. But they carry the echo of two cities, crafted from one of the world's finest natural fibers, shaped by hands that take their time.
QUITO is light. LA PAZ is depth. Together they are the Andean Duo – two sisters from a journey that forever changed my view of fabric.
