The land of the Incas, Peru, enjoys a rich cultural, culinary and historical background, ripe with strong traditions, vibrant colours and a unique approach to artisanry. "This is precisely what I want to celebrate through Lady Mosquito: Peruvian artisanry, its materials, its unique colours," says owner Cynthia Villegas.
"I specialize in bringing in unique fashions, accessories and pieces created by Peruvian artisans and I distribute them either by Lady Mosquito's physical store or online,” she says.
Since its beginnings, the shop has expanded to offer items from other South American countries like Chile, Venezuela and Colombia, as well as works from local artisans. Lady Mosquito's stock includes necklaces, earrings, pouches, brooches, bags and much more. Cynthia even has her own line of necklaces that she calls the Lady Mosquito Signature Collection, a line she designs and creates herself out of her workshop in Toronto.
"I try to bring in work that one would have a hard time to find elsewhere in Toronto," Cynthia says. "These pieces are all handmade by artisans in South America, and each of them is a show of dedication, craftsmanship and, of course, cultural heritage. Most of what we carry here is entirely environmentally friendly — the fabrics are organic and the materials used are environmentally safe."
