Our Story | Alpaca Headquarters

Three generations of tradition, art, and love for Peru

Our story begins in Peru

My name is Heather, and I would love to share my family’s story. It began many years ago in Lima, Peru, with my grandfather Marcial, a talented artisan who devoted his life to making beautiful wooden furniture covered in embossed leather.

Using tools he made himself, sometimes even from nails, he pressed intricate patterns and designs into leather. He made dining room furniture, rocking chairs, trunks, armchairs, and many other pieces. Each one reflected his creativity, patience, and love of craftsmanship.

My grandfather had ten children, and each pursued a different type of artisan work. My mother was one of them. She worked alongside him in the family shop, where they sold his furniture and a wide variety of Peruvian handicrafts to visitors.

While my mother welcomed customers at the shop, my grandfather went to the port of Callao to meet travelers arriving by ship. He escorted them to the store to discover the crafts, then brought them safely back to their ship. At a time when tourists could be targeted by thieves, he took their safety seriously. To him, each visit was a chance to share the beauty and culture of Peru.

A love story across two countries

Another special chapter of our story began in that very shop. My father, a merchant mariner, arrived in Peru and met my mother while she was working at my grandfather’s business. He fell in love with her as soon as he saw her and told her that one day they would marry.

To win her heart, he sent her flowers every week from the United States. I always smile thinking he must have spent a fortune on flowers! He asked my grandfather for permission to court her, and in time my parents were married in Peru.

My mother lived there for a few more years before beginning a new chapter with my father in the United States. Although she moved to a new country, she never left behind her roots or her love of traditional craftsmanship.

My grandfather’s dream

My grandfather Marcial always dreamed of opening a Peruvian handicrafts store in the United States. Years later, my mother and I decided to make that dream a reality. That is how Alpaca Headquarters began: a family business created to carry on my grandfather’s legacy and share the cultural richness of Peru.

My father helped us during the shop’s early years. Later, he faced significant health challenges, and today my mother devotes much of her time to caring for him. Our family remains united by the same love and perseverance that started this story.

Craftsmanship runs in our family

I grew up surrounded by handmade goods, stories, and traditions. To us, each piece is more than an object: it reflects the knowledge and creativity of its maker, along with skills passed down through generations.

At Alpaca Headquarters, we share a selection of alpaca clothing, textiles, jewelry, ceramics, home décor, and other Peruvian handicrafts. We love introducing our customers to the diversity of our country and the talent of its artisans.

I am a businesswoman, happily married, and deeply proud to carry on this family legacy. Every time I open the doors to our shop, I feel that a part of my grandfather Marcial’s dream lives on.

Thank you for getting to know our story, supporting our small family business, and helping us keep our roots alive. I hope you find a little piece of Peru to bring home.

With love, 

Heather and the Alpaca Headquarters family