Jolene Kraft is knitwear and crochet designer from British Columbia, Canada. With a nod to vintage style, her designs include viking-esque figures, patterns from nature such as peacock feathers and snowflakes, and chimerical images of krackens and jackalopes. This dynamic designer also a potter, acupuncturist and herbalist!
This particular Kraftling design was knitted for HS Mercantile by AHA Bolivia.
AHA Bolivia was started over 25 years ago by Anna Hosbein Aliaga and her husband Carlos Aliaga as a fundraising effort to maintain a puma habitat. To provide funds for one year of maintenance, they traveled to the United States to sell handmade artisan goods from Bolivia. The effort was a success, but more funds were needed, so they continued with this fundraising model.
Anna started forming relationships with the artisans who were creating the goods she was selling and developed a deep appreciation for the skills of communities she was working with. This led to the creation of AHA Bolivia, a socially responsible organization that employs local artisans who create quality handmade products.
Following a fair-trade manufacturing model, Anna and Carlos are committed to providing a safe and just working environment and have developed long term relationships with the artisans they work with. With a respect for their natural surroundings, they use only ethical, sustainable, and responsible sourcing standards while producing beautiful, high-quality goods.
