A reverence for time-honored craftsmanship has always been at the heart of all that we do—and so too has lifting up women and women-identifying individuals across all tiers of our supply chain. This season, we’re honored to share our newest partnership with Manos del Uruguay, a network of fair-trade cooperatives owned and operated by women.

Manos is organized across twelve cooperatives, each located in a small village in the Uruguayan countryside. A member of the World Fair Trade Organization since 2009, the organization is highly engaged in supporting producers, raising awareness, and campaigning for change in the rules and practices of international trade. The artisans themselves are the owners of the company, with all profits shared among the cooperatives or re-invested in the organization.

Debuting with our first chapter of Fall, the DÔEN Heirloom Ayen Cardigan and Marti Sweater—both rendered in 100% merino wool—were hand-painted, hand-spun, and handknit by Manos’ women artisans, whose textile skills have been passed down through generations. In hues that recall a magical desert sunset—rich reds and oranges, burnished golds, saffron yellows—these extra-special keepsake knits are a testament to the hours of meticulous work that went into each.

Wool fibers are hand-painted in small batches with low-impact dyes before being spun into yarn, knit, inspected for quality control, and adorned with finishing details; a process that can take up to three days for each individual garment. Each piece includes a special tag with the signature and location of the artisan who created it—a small reminder of the story behind the sweater.

Below, a glimpse of Manos’ skilled artisans at work on our Desert Sunset knits.