Fluffy alpaca dolls from Peru's Andes Mountains have found a bigger stage at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, enchanting Chinese consumers with exquisite handmade toys and helping Peruvian artisans boost their incomes.
The eighth edition of the CIIE is underway in the Chinese economic hub with a record 4,108 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions, and international organizations.
Among the international exhibitors is Ysabel Zea, one of the founders of Peruvian alpaca stuffed toy brand Warmpaca. This is her fourth CIIE journey, but the brand has participated in the world's first national-level expo dedicated to imports for eight consecutive years.
Alpaca textiles are one of the South American country's pillar industries and the main source of income for residents in the Andes Mountains. Many local families make alpaca-related handicrafts and sell them to tourists. Only a small portion of their products were exported to Australia and New Zealand.
Now, however, the handmade dolls are catching attention in China, with the CIIE serving as a platform for even greater expansion in the country's consumer market.
"I feel very proud when I see a lot of people coming into our booth and just looking at our products, just feeling how soft they are. It warms us. It's not only just selling beautiful toys, but it's a representation of Peruvian culture," said Zea.
The story of the Peruvian alpaca toys crossing the Pacific Ocean to the CIIE began in 2016. Ma Yuxia, a Chinese businesswoman traveled to Peru's Arequipa and purchased two alpaca wool products made by local craftsman Oswaldo Mamani at a street market.
After returning to China, Ma gave these two adorable toys to a client as gifts. Unexpectedly, that same evening, the client called requesting 1,000 more units. Seizing the business opportunity, Ma partnered with Mamani, whose family workshop could barely produce a few pieces daily. Mobilizing his entire household, they delivered the order after several months.
"In 2016 and 2017, we only had one client with an order of 1,000 pieces a year, and there wasn't much growth. In 2018, I happened to see on the news broadcast that the first China International Import Expo was going to be held in Shanghai. I told my Peruvian partners that we must participate. At the first CIIE, we just had a small booth, and we never expected that so many people would like our products so much," Ma said.
Ma and her Peruvian partners registered Warmpaca to attend the inaugural edition of the CIIE in 2018. The expo made alpaca dolls quickly popular in the Chinese market. However, as the orders flooded in and the business expanded rapidly, the team had a disagreement over the standards of product quality.
"We didn't understand why Chinese consumers needed more, needed perfection. It was very hard to make the artisans understand why the product had to have certain quality standards to be able to be sold to our customers," said Zea.
In 2019, Zea participated in the second CIIE for the first time. The bustling expo showed her the huge potential of the Chinese market, and made her realize how fierce competition really is. After returning to her hometown, Zea and the artisans established strict product standards.
In 2023, Ma invited Mamani and his wife to Shanghai to attend the 6th CIIE. The Peruvian artisans demonstrated their impressive technique of making alpaca-fur stuffed toys to expo visitors and communicated face-to-face with their customers. They also visited Warmpaca's offline store and the city's landmarks.
Chinese consumers' appreciation and recognition of the alpaca goods have driven Mamani and his production base to continue innovating and improving their products.
"The improvement of the products' appearance and quality has largely boosted sales. Therefore, the effect of the CIIE is not limited within these six days. It can extend throughout the entire year. People's recognition of Peruvian products is getting higher and higher," said Ma.
From a nine-square meter booth to a 54-square exhibition area, and from an annual order of 1,000 units to a monthly volume of 10,000 products, Warmpaca has not only established a firm foothold in the Chinese toy market, but also promoted the development of the local handicraft industry in Peru, helping over 100 households improve their lives.
"Oswaldo Mamani, he, at the beginning of the business, had a very small house, a very small workshop. With time, he began to expand his house, he bought a car. Now his house has three floors. His kids went to high school and university, which for them was something hard to imagine a long time ago," said Zea.
Ma said she hopes the exceptional products can help transform more people's dreams into tangible realities.
CIIE turns handcrafted Peruvian alpaca dolls into sought-after toys
