Gallery textiles was created not only to earn profits to support the needy children of Peru, but also to provide a venue for a Peruvian cottage industry to grow and flourish. The goal was to find a Peruvian Quechua family that excelled at the ancient alpaca fiber weaving skills handed down from the time of the Incas.

Pam knew immediately when she discovered the Serna-Rodas family that the fit was perfect. An accidental walk down a narrow cobblestone alley led to a tiny shop full of remarkable hand-woven and hand-finished sweaters. From there, she visited the home where the family members lived and worked together on three hand looms.

That was 2003. Currently, with mentoring in color, design and finish work to satisfy U.S. taste, Pam has helped this family to grow their business to six looms. The family still lives and works in their home, but one brother moved out to make room for the additional looms.

The Serna-Rodas family grew up in a small remote village in the Andes and were part of more than 600,000 Peruvian people displaced-and at least 35,000 killed-during the Shining Path's reign of terror in the 1980s. During this time, Henrry Serna-Rodas (chief designer for Gallery Textiles, see photo to right) and his siblings were sent to live with relatives near Arequipa, to be out of harm's way. These children were shoeless but had a desire to make a new and better life. They began working tirelessly on the only skills they had and many years later, opened a small shop selling their beautiful sweaters.

The Serna-Rodas family and Gallery Textiles formed a Peruvian company called Gallery Textiles, SRL. This joint venture will open new avenues of opportunity to expand their family-run business.