The Culture Trip put together this list of seven reasons why you should visit Tierra del Fuego, the home of Karukinka. If this doesn't make you want to add this location to your bucket list, allow us to suggest one more reason: You can take a tour of our workshop to see just how much love and care is put into every single piece of apparel we make. While we all wait for the days when we can travel comfortably again, we'll leave you with this reading from The Culture Trip.
This week we are grateful that our story was told in this article in Diario Financiero, a Chilean economic newspaper. In it, our founder Felipe Jadue explains the impetus behind starting Karukinka, why he chose Tierra del Fuego as our home base, and what has gone into creating an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable business.Â
This summer, we’ve been focusing on some incredible women changemakers around the globe. We’ve featured these women because of their dedication to sustainability, social change and empowering women in their communities.Â
Stay updated on more changemakers this fall on our Instagram by giving us a follow on Instagram at @karukinkaoutdoor.
Imagine being trapped on an island. It's reminiscent of 1960s American television shows and blockbuster movies. But for our founder and CEO, Felipe Jadue, that’s what life is like at this very moment.Â
Despite what you know about our company’s high-end outdoor apparel, Karukinka isn’t necessarily in business to sell clothing. This company was started to disrupt the fashion industry, to offer a new way of doing business that benefits everyone from our consumers to our partners to the planet. That’s why we are pursuing a B Corp certification.Â
On July 13th we celebrated Day of the Weaver in Chile, paying homage to women who have dedicated their lives to making artisanal clothing. Without the predominant women-led production team, Karukinka wouldn’t be what it is today.Â
The circumstances of our summer are certainly unprecedented. It may feel like an odd time to consider your waste, but we disagree. We’ve been given an opportunity to see what we can do without many luxuries we take for granted. Now is the perfect time to prioritize, think local, and shop smart.
Thanks to the dedication of the Corporation Selk’nam Chile, the National Congress in Chile has approved a bill for the Selk’nam people to be officially recognized as an indigenous ethnic group. This is particularly important given the renewed effort to recognize historically marginalized groups. Prior to this recognition, the Selk’nam were declared “extinct,” when in reality, their ancestors are active and living.Â
With the environmental and performance benefits of natural fibers, from local animals such as alpaca, llama, and sheep, and the performance capabilities of high-quality recycled fabrics like Polartec® Power Stretch Pro, we can guarantee the best garments that last for years to come.Â
Our Karukinka yarn, or “K-Yarn,” blends the best properties of three sustainable, cruelty-free, and 100% handspun natural fibers. The benefits of natural fibers go far beyond their positive social and environmental impact. We truly believe they make the best product out there, which is why we stand by each product we make. Find out which fibers we choose to use and why.Â
We're proud to have been able to support the creation of this bilingual story published in the latest issue of Sisu Magazine. Emily Hopican and Carolina Ibarra Rojas wove together their experiences, in English and Spanish, about their connection to Torres del Paine in Patagonia, their adventures, and how one tale about little berry proved to be true. Thank you to Timothy Dhalleine for capturing this special bond between two people and a place with your photography.
