After losing her grandmother in 2023, Stella Enríquez decided to honor her memory by creating a fashion brand that would carry into the world everything her grandmother had taught her about natural fibers and Peruvian traditions.

That's how Munay ("love" in Quechua) was born, a brand created in Switzerland and built for European markets, but with a deeply multicultural identity, reflecting its founder's Peruvian, Swiss, and Dutch roots.

Its goal is to develop the finest natural fibers and bring them to an international stage, with a constant focus on elevating Peru's image abroad.

The company started two years ago, selling baby alpaca garments made in Peru, honoring the ancestral know-how behind a fiber of exceptional fineness light and warm at once.

The market itself pushed Munay to expand its offering, first with vicuña, aimed at exclusive markets, and then with Pima cotton, meant to soften the seasonality of the collections.

"At first, I didn't even dare dream of selling vicuña," Stella admits.

"I knew it would be an exceptional achievement, and I didn't think it would happen so fast but this February, we completed our first official transaction of this fiber, the finest that exists, whose access is strictly regulated to guarantee its quality and protect it from extinction," she said.

Working with a range of suppliers has let Munay understand the technical side of each fiber in depth, building collections with a modern, elegant, timeless design to position itself in a premium market.

This period of development has also been a chance to evaluate different international markets, with an eye toward carrying Peru's image into the world of fashion and luxury an ambition already reflected in its presence in Swiss boutiques and at trade shows like "Who's Next" in Paris and "White" in Milan.

Munay is currently in conversations with baby alpaca and vicuña producer communities to launch joint projects that would help them grow and become more established.

"Sustainability is at the heart of Munay. This will give those communities the chance to reach international markets through a brand that values environmental and social responsibility," Stella states.

Beyond fashion, Stella sees Munay as a cultural bridge: "My ambition is to build a community where human relationships can flourish through fashion becoming the reference 'Maison' offering the world's finest natural fibers."

To those in Peru who dream of starting a business and carrying their culture to the world, she offers simple advice: "Commit fully, seek guidance from people with experience, and stay true to your own values" the same thread she used to weave Munay.

To reach her: stella@munaystores.com, @munay.officialstore, and www.munaystores.com