At the same time as I was trying to get my old distributor to work with hemp, I also wanted them to bring in the Manos del Uruguay line. Judith Shangold (design source.com?) and I tried to arrange it, but were ultimately unsuccessful.

The newly-created Ashley yarns began to distribute Manos in Canada in 2004. My splendid ex-colleague Norm Bagley offered to introduce me to the owner of Ashley in early 2006 and I was overjoyed. Manos was a pioneer in the fair trade concept, whereby Uruguayan women kettle-dyed batches of pure wool (and later pure cotton), and were thereby able to bring extra income to their families and community. This would be only admirable if the yarns weren't so darned beautiful, and therefore covetable. The rich/soft Manos fibres have always sported the subtle colour variations that huge factories can only attempt to duplicate. There are twenty years' worth of pattern coverage in various media, and Manos remains a favourite line for designers and customers alike.

Visit their site at www.manos.com.uy.