About Us

Joshua Sandstrom has integrated his love for travel and textiles with a desire to honor the unique cultural heritage of indigenous cultures. In his words, here is the tale of Circle of the Sun.

Circle of the Sun began in 2001 and has forged its primary relationship with artisan cooperatives in the Himalayas and Andes.

After several years of making handcrafts while living a nomadic lifestyle in the United States, I journeyed into the Andes Mountains of Bolivia and Peru. As an artisan, I was fascinated with the rich culture expressed through native crafts. While in the city of La Paz, I connected with a shopkeeper who invited me to meet her family of weavers. They shared their life with me, transforming my own. Learn More Here

Eight months later I returned to Bolivia and into this family's life. Trusting this connection, I offered to sell their beautiful hand woven Alpaca scarves, shawls, and ruanas in America. I returned to the United States and had brisk sales as I traveled the country in my pickup truck. I continued to order more products from Bolivia to meet demand. New to the art of business, I learned quickly and began to develop the skills needed to grow my vision.

The following year my fiancé and I traveled to Thailand, Cambodia, and India. In each place we found rich culture, beautiful handcrafts, and native teachings. In India we worked with a group that weaves traditional shawls to preserve their heritage. They have invested in a building that houses several looms. These pieces tell vivid stories of the communities where they are made, and the people who weave them. We continue to help this group market their products to the world.

Another year passed, my wife and I returned to live with our Bolivian friends, journey to their rural homeland, and learn more about their lives and dreams. We brought prototypes for low watt LED light systems, highly efficient, low cost irrigation kits, and connected with local NGOs who cultivate sustainability by installing rainwater catchment systems.

We also volunteered in an orphanage in Southern Peru, where we installed an efficient irrigation system in their greenhouse, and vented adobe cook stoves in neighboring villages. We also helped participate in an eco-tourism program to protect nearby native old growth forests. Visit our 'Projects' <insert live link> page to learn more and see our photos.

Our goal is to create an economic link with indigenous families and cultivate long-term prosperity using sustainable tools and permaculture techniques. We will begin installation of several projects in early 2009, with our fundraising programs, and matching donations from others.

Circle of the Sun buys and markets these items, empowering the artisans to move beyond the daily challenge of meeting their immediate needs, and move towards creating a sustainable future.

A passion for travel and world culture coupled with a deep love of these sacred places is at the heart of this enterprise.