Peru is well noted for their top quality in the textile industry. One of the “most prized fibers” in the fashion industry is sourced straight from the Peruvian Andes (McHugh 2020). They have a wide range of natural & cellulose fibers. The Andes are home to not only the Peruvian Alpaca, where the wool comes from, but other animals as well. Alpacas can produce more than forty shades of wool depending on the various different coats (The Peruvian Connection, 2022), broadening the variety Peru can offer. Thanks to Peru’s wide range of climates, it is a great environment for cotton to be produced as well. Both the cotton and wool are soft and durable, allowing them to become highly sought out fibers used for many quality textiles around the globe. Peruvian cotton is known to be one of the highest quality in the world (Quintanilla, 2007) Other resources that allow Peru to participate in trade with other countries for their minerals, such as gold, silver, and iron. 

Many economic reports from Peru indicate that one of its greatest advantages in investments in the country is its natural resources (ABC Amega, 2020). Peru is the most favorite destination of many fashionistas or “Fashion Jet-Setters” who say that the land has the best resources and that has made it a leader in the international textile industry. Not only is Peru able to rely on their natural fiber, but they’re also able to count on its great biodiversity of vegetable fibers and thanks to the existence of the ancient civilization, they have been able to develop a material that is only distinguished in Peru, for its excellent quality (Garcia, 2013).This material is known as the excellent and high quality cotton that grows in Peru, it is called Pima and Tangüis, as of today, fabrics such as alpaca, cotton and vicuña are products categorized as fine materials and of the same quality level as cashmere (International Trade Administration, 2022). This fabric is one of the reasons why the Peruvian textile industry has become so valued, since the excellent quality of cotton makes products made in Peru internationally recognized, also mentioning the production and manufacture of products and goods, Garcia also agrees that textiles and apparel are the most promising industry sector for the country (2013).  These materials provide Peru with a wide range of variety. 

According to PBS, the mining industry accounted for approximately forty-five percent of Peru’s exports (PBS, 2005). Aside from minerals, fibers, and its agriculture, the UN projected that the main source of the country’s economy would be driven by private investments of Peru’s oils, gas, and mining industries (UN, 2022).Figure 2 indicates that most of the country’s resources are produced and extracted from the Western and Southern parts of Peru (University of Texas Libraries, 2021). These resources are mainly found in and around The Andes thanks to their vast biodiversity and their variety of landform.

Figure 2 

Peru – Economic Activity

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, Peru – Economic Activity,1970, The University of Texas Libraries.