Threads of Peru

Supporting traditional weaving skills in the Andes

The LATA Foundation is pleased to be supporting Threads of Peru on community weaving projects in remote communities in the Andes. Threads of Peru has been working with women to plan, make and sell hand woven weavings to the wider market, thereby increasing their income and quality of life. 

The LATA Foundation has provided practical materials for the project, such as dyes, needles, sewing machines, zips, bobbins, tape measures and marker pens. In addition we have been selling dolls and table mats in the UK. The aim is to provide the women with the means to earn a living whilst maintaining their culture and way of life. 

LATA Foundation Case Study: Demesia's Story

 

You can support this project by buying items directly on e-bay:  http://stores.ebay.ca/Threads-of-Peru-Store

We recently sold a number of  table mats, dolls and table runners at the PooFest music festival. Two young girls who bought dolls from our stand asked us to send a message to the weavers. To read more, please see our report: From Peru to the PooFest

For further information about the Pootings music festival please see our PooFest report.

Photo: The LATA Foundation stall at the PooFest. 

http://threadsofperu.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/weavings-at-poofest/

Versión en Espaňol: Hilos del Peru

Background:

Floods and excessive rains in the Cusco region in  2010 had a dramatic affect on the cochineal insect from which the red dye has been extracted in Latin America since pre-Colombian times. As a result, cochineal dye was in short supply and prices skyrocketed from $30 to $100 per kg, an increase of over 300%.

LATA Foundation funding meant that all the weavers on the project received a share of cochineal, which is a vital component to not only red dye, but several other colours as well. We also provided  fixers (lemon salt), alum and oxides which are combined with native plants collected in the mountains to dye the wools used in weavings. The LATA Foundation has also provided practical materials such as needles, sewing machines, zips, bobbins, marker pens and other associated equipment to support the project.

The project involves master classes (workshops) in each of the three communities (Rumira Sondormayo, Chaullacocha and Chupani) under the direction of Master Weaver Daniel Sonqo of Parobamba, assisted by Agustina Puma of Urubamba.

On behalf of the LATA Foundation Ali McClymont went to the Sacred Valley to report on this project, filmed by Louise Martindale. They only had very rudimentary equipment on their travels across South America and the built-in mic picked up some noise from the wind up in the Andes, but please take a look at their film about the project:  Weaving Project Video

The LATA Foundation is working with contacts in the travel business in Cuzco and the Sacred Valley to see if we can  support  the project further by finding an outlet for products, such as in a local hotel.

If you would like to make a donation or set up a monthly direct debit to support our work, please click onto our Donations pages or go to www.justgiving.com/lata.  

Date project approved: 24 August 2010