Manos del Uruguay is a non-profit founded in 1968 by five women to create paid work for rural Uruguayan artisans. It is organised as a network of cooperative workshops in small countryside villages and has been a World Fair Trade Organization member since 2009. Output centres on hand-dyed yarns and hand-knit garments, with pieces such as a poncho listed at $280.
Key facts
- Founded in 1968 by five women to create work for rural artisans
- Non-profit organised as 12 cooperative workshops across rural Uruguay
- World Fair Trade Organization member since 2009
- Has supplied hand-knits to international designers for decades
Fibres and construction
Manos del Uruguay works principally in Merino wool, Silk & silk blends, Alpaca. Construction and techniques associated with the house include hand-knit and hand-dyed. It is based in Uruguay, whose knitwear is defined by hand-knitting cooperatives in the countryside and a national wool industry that supplies merino and Corriedale yarns to international luxury labels..
How to judge Manos del Uruguay quality
- Merino quality depends on micron (extra-fine is under 18.5 µm) and on worsted spinning; fine-gauge pieces (21–30 gg) are a technical speciality worth paying for.
- Alpaca is graded by fineness: royal (under 19 µm) and baby (19–22.5 µm) are the luxury grades. Expect less elasticity than wool and check that blends are declared.
- Hand-knitted or hand-framed pieces show slight, natural irregularity in stitch tension; uniformity that looks machine-perfect may indicate otherwise.
Similar houses
Manos del Uruguay: frequently asked questions
Where is Manos del Uruguay knitwear made?
Manos del Uruguay is based in Montevideo, Uruguay. Founded in 1968 by five women to create work for rural artisans.
What is Manos del Uruguay known for?
Manos del Uruguay is known for fair-trade hand-dyed yarns and hand-knit garments from rural Uruguayan artisan cooperatives. Its principal fibres are Merino wool, Silk & silk blends and Alpaca.
Is Manos del Uruguay a luxury brand?
Manos del Uruguay sits in the premium tier of this index (roughly $150–$400 for a sweater). Its construction methods include hand-knit and hand-dyed. It is listed here on the basis of fibre quality, construction and provenance rather than price alone.
How much does Manos del Uruguay knitwear cost?
Manos del Uruguay is roughly $150–$400 for a sweater at the time of writing. Prices vary by fibre and style.
Sources
Facts verified against the sources above on 16 September 2026. Prices are indicative and change; check the house's own site.