KCR Autumn 2023 FINAL low res - Flipbook - Page 38
LACORINE: Luxurious meets ethical
How one brand contributes to global sustainability
Antonia Valentin-Jacob, the owner and founder of Lacorine, a luxury
alpaca brand, helps disadvantaged Peruvian artisans 昀nd prosperity in
an uncertain global economy.
Peru is considered one of the richest countries in the world in terms of
natural resources. Financially, however, it is among the 100 poorest in
the world: its GDP per capita for 2022 was $7,126, which was lower than
that of Brazil, Costa Rica, and Belarus.
Meet Antonia Valentin-Jacob, who started her family-run business in
2007 after a trip to her native Peru with her daughter, then aged seven.
She had left her impoverished beginnings at the age of 21, for a new life,
and new opportunities, in the UK 3 but the return trip to Peru was humbling, giving Antonia9s daughter immense cultural insight into Antonia9s
homeland and heritage.
The Andes is home to alpaca farmers, who rely solely on the wool 昀bre
from alpaca shearings to provide an income for their families, since
Alpaca wool is used to create luxury garments sold all over the world. As
Antonia explains: