THE MINKA — AN EVENING OF COLLECTIVE BEAUTY CELEBRATING ANDEAN WOMEN, CRAFT & CULTURE
On March 3 - 4, 2027, join Ibu in Charleston, SC, for The Minka—our International Women’s Day Mini Summit & Gala—a shared spirit of artistry, collaboration, and cultural heritage found across South America.
Enjoy Andean-inspired cuisine, live entertainment, and a colorful fashion event, while honoring our 2027 Global Champions: Hans Valdez, Kennedy Leavens, and Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez.
Raise your paddle, ignite futures, and celebrate the fierce determination of women worldwide.
GALA DETAILS
When: Thursday, March 4
Time: doors open at 6pm
Where: Festival Hall, 56 Beaufain Street, Charleston, SC
Co-chaired by Alicia Gregory and Sarah Beardsley
Presented by our leading sponsor, Bank of America Private Bank, Ibu will host a seated gala, including:
- Andean-inspired dinner and drinks
- Remarks from our global champions Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez of Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco (CTTC), Hans Valdez of MIA Peru, and Kennedy Leavens of Awamaki, about the impact of elevating women through the art of their hands
- A fabulous fashion event with the spirited glamor of our partners in design
- Live music and shopping our latest looks
- A paddle raise to fund important artisan grants and new initiatives in the year ahead
Grab your Ibu and He-bu allies to reserve a table and make a night of it with friends. Together, we can make a positive impact, celebrating the power in women’s hands.
Image credit: Maribet Berrocal wearing traditional Acopía-Combapata textiles, Sacred Valley, Peru (detail). Copyright Chris Rainier/The Cultural Sanctuaries Foundation.
GALA HOST COMMITTEE
Susan Dyes, Cece Fowler, Lori Greeley, Deborah Kennedy Kennard, Paige King, Mosmi Naik Patel, Monica Seeger
WOMEN OF THE ANDES MINI SUMMIT
Ibu will host a four-session summit on the morning of Wednesday, March 3, at the Charleston Library Society, featuring celebrated global leaders on the topics of culture and heritage, artisan design and impact, and women leaders around the country. Attendees will have an opportunity to engage with the speakers through Q&A sessions at the end of each presentation, and will be able to shop work from each of the speakers at the Ibu Showroom following the presentations.
DETAILS
When: Wednesday, March 3
Time: 9am - 1pm
Where: Charleston Library Society, 164 King Street
Speakers include:
- A conversation between Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, founder of the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco, and Ibu founder Susan Hull Walker, on preserving Quechua culture and textile tradition
- A panel with Hans Valdez of MIA Peru and Kennedy Leavens of Awamaki on the impact of Ibu grants used to build new gathering spaces for artisans
- A presentation from Olivia McKendrick and Chris Rainier of Cultural Sanctuaries on their preservation work in the Andes and beyond
The Minka Presenting Sponsor
MOLA MADRINA RUNWAY SPONSORS
EVENT PARTNERS
About ibu
Global Fashion marketplace
Providing a marketplace for women's artisanal goods is our most effective tool for elevating women out of poverty and into a position of sovereignty over their lives.
ARTISAN PARTNERS
A small team in Charleston, SC, Ibu collaborates with over 100 women's groups in 40 countries,providing living wages, and because of that, also self-respect, a voice in their communities, and food for their families.
CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS
We respond to the needs of women’s artisan communities through our grants program, thereby strengthening their internal capacity to grow into self-sufficiency.
