About the Founders

James with the knitters who make our unique hand dyed chullos in Cusco region, 2011

Amy Yates first became involved with Peru when she went there on her gap year, having studied Spanish throughout secondary school.  She spent a year living in Trujillo, northern Peru.  She then went on to study Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies at Nottingham University, returning to Peru during her year abroad to work for the British Embassy in Lima. Amy and her partner James Mathey founded Mamacha, a registered not-for-profit organisation, in 2008.  James has also spent time in Peru and together the two of them have built strong relationships with the producers, talking frequently on the phone, emailing weekly and visiting as often as possible.  James has a natural flair for sales and together they are delighted that they have been successful in establishing a financially viable business model that has such a positive social impact.

Amy has also completed a Business Course in Sustainable Fashion at the London College of Fashion.