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Huayanay
Huayanay - Huayanay,
Huancavelica
Leoncio de la Cruz Quispe, Alberto de la Cruz Solano, Godofredo de la Cruz Ccente, Misael Chocca Fernandez, Agustin Ccente Hilario, Gonzalo Ccente López, Emiliano Chocca Fernandez
Huayanay
is a small settlement of houses perched at over
14,500 feet, a four-hour walk from the nearest
city of Huancavelica. Many residents of this
community own looms on which they create
beautiful, soft baby blankets and
shawls.
In the 1960s and 1970s, a Swiss family living in Huancayo helped weavers adapt colors and designs for the European market. As the weavers received assistance in constructing looms and obtaining materials, their art continued and expanded. However, when the family left during the terrorism of the 1980s, many in the community were left with weaving skills and a loom, but without the means to buy materials. Decades later, one can still see dilapidated looms throughout Huancayo and Huancavelica, as very few weavers have been able to market their handicrafts.
In the
1980s, Huayanay was a typical community in
which the people farmed, raised animals, and
wove. Each month they would go to
Huancayo to pick up materials and to deliver
their finished products. They had to shear
their llamas and sheep; the women would then
spin the material into yarn. They would dye the
yarn with natural berries, roots and leaves,
and make a colorful woolen bedspread. They
didn't have a market and would simply take the
product to the city of Huancavelica, hoping to
sell there. At that time it was difficult
to sell even ten bedspreads a year. Yet this
was their principal source of cash income, so
they continued.
ATIYPAQ, one of the institutions of the Joining Hands Against Poverty Network, worked near Huayanay and knew the weavers who weren't weaving much anymore. ATIYPAQ introduced some of the weavers to Bridge of Hope, a Fair Trade project. The weavers were invited to Lima so they could learn about buying materials. Given the traditional designs they wanted to incorporate, they decided to try to create 100% cotton baby blankets. Weaving with cotton is different than working with wool, and at times it has been a challenge, but the group persisted and has created beautiful products.
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Leoncio de la Cruz Quispe, Alberto de la Cruz Solano, Godofredo de la Cruz Ccente, Misael Chocca Fernandez, Agustin Ccente Hilario, Gonzalo Ccente López, Emiliano Chocca Fernandez
In the 1960s and 1970s, a Swiss family living in Huancayo helped weavers adapt colors and designs for the European market. As the weavers received assistance in constructing looms and obtaining materials, their art continued and expanded. However, when the family left during the terrorism of the 1980s, many in the community were left with weaving skills and a loom, but without the means to buy materials. Decades later, one can still see dilapidated looms throughout Huancayo and Huancavelica, as very few weavers have been able to market their handicrafts.
ATIYPAQ, one of the institutions of the Joining Hands Against Poverty Network, worked near Huayanay and knew the weavers who weren't weaving much anymore. ATIYPAQ introduced some of the weavers to Bridge of Hope, a Fair Trade project. The weavers were invited to Lima so they could learn about buying materials. Given the traditional designs they wanted to incorporate, they decided to try to create 100% cotton baby blankets. Weaving with cotton is different than working with wool, and at times it has been a challenge, but the group persisted and has created beautiful products.
Shop Huayanay's products >>
Return to previous page >>