Our Team
Brooke Kelsey
Brooke first fell in love with the artisanal offerings of Latin America during her travels through Mexico. Her travels impressed upon Brooke the importance of marrying entrepreneurial spirit with socially responsible ways of doing business. Through her own love of design and creating a meaningful experience in her home for her young family, she realized the potential to get high quality, durable artisanal products in the hands of consumers stateside.
With 10 years and counting working with major retailers, Brooke brings supply chain and brand management expertise to Kukuli. She is also the US-based arm of the Kukuli team, focused on business development opportunities across the States and in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.
Abbie Whisner
Originally persuaded to relocate to South America by her husband, Abbie can no longer imagine life without the constant discoveries and surprises life in Latin America brings.
Having now spent nearly 5 years between Ecuador and Peru, her knowledge of artisanal products across these regions has grown quite extensive. From fiber and seed jewelry hailing from the Amazon to the seemingly infinite riches of the Andes, Abbie feels it is a privilege to share the traditions and crafts as a means to encourage passing artisanal-based knowledge on to the next generation.
Kate Reátegui
Kate moved to Lima with her husband who was ready to move home after living in the States for 10 years. She was excited for the adventure of living abroad and learning about the vibrant and lively city and beautiful country her husband calls home.
It was love at first sight for Kate when it came to Peruvian textiles and handicrafts. And after more than 4 years in Lima that love has grown and so has her knowledge of fine Peruvian crafts. As Kate's personal collection grew she realized she ultimately wanted to share these amazing products with others while also promoting the continued traditions and practices of Peruvian artisans.
Kukuli is what happens when three women join forces to share Peruvian artisanal pieces with appreciative buyers. With 8 years (and counting) spent living in South America and 10 years in retail buying, we are passionate about integrating the “sentimiento” - or feeling - of traditional handiwork into a modern lifestyle.
We've grown weary of mass produced products and are privileged to work alongside small artisan communities to offer one-of-a-kind and small batch products for our customers. In this way we encourage communities to pass on their ancestrial skills and trade. Through our extensive travels, we have had the privilege to personally visit and learn about various artisanal practices throughout Latin America. Peru alone is home to thousands of different techniques, weaves and styles spanning from Trujillo to Cuzco to the islands of Lake Titicaca. We invite you to explore our collection and learn both from and with us.
Why choose Alpaca? Alpaca Fiber Facts:
100% hypoallergenic
Contains no lanolin
Hollow core fiber
Lightweight yet strong
Luxuriously soft like cashmere
Available in over 20 natural shades