Apocheta Artisan Designs

iles also relayed status and power, and, because they never used any system of writing, textiles were also used to carry detailed messages. Everything, from the herding of Alpaca and Vicuña, to the hand-weaving of their fibers, to the use of dyes and patterns, formed important ancestral traditions and rituals that have survived in rural Andean villages to this day. In Andean villages, the art of knitting is passed down from generation to generation, from mother to daughter, and starting from early childhood. Weaving produces a valuable source of income to supplement what families are able to earn from their small farms. It is not uncommon to pass a Peruvian mother and her several daughters crossing high mountain passes on their way to a neighboring village, yarn in hand and weaving as they walk. Sadly in recent decades many Andean communities have suffered greatly, through years of terrorism and civil conflict, difficult livelihoods and huge numbers of people migrating from the mountains to the city. All this means that many ancient traditions are at risk of extinction, and that the folks who remain in the mountains can lead very tough lives, with low incomes, poor education and low standards of living. Unfortunately, Peru’s ancestral weaving traditions have also been affected and the ancient art is at serious risk of dying out forever. Fortunately for weaving communities, Peruvian and international designers and consumers have taken a new interest in Peruvian knitwear, recognizing the quality of the fibers and the striking, characteristic designs. Designers have partnered with weaving cooperatives to find profitable new outlets for traditional textiles, bringing new opportunities to these remote communities and encourage weavers to rekindle their art and return it to its previous important status.