A richly illustrated look at Andean weaving, which embodies the living history and culture of the Peruvian highlands, this guide extensively catalogs many of the intricate patterns found in traditional Peruvian textiles. Exploring the personal histories of the Quechua people who sustain this tradition, it examines how they weave extraordinary amounts of cloth on simple backstrap looms—just as their forebears have done for thousands of years—to make clothing, rugs, bedcovers, potato sacks, hunting slings, and sacrificial fabrics for both their villages and for interested tourists. How pattern names such as Meandering River or Lake With Flowers relate to the geography and history of the region is also discussed, as is how the traditional natural materials and colors enhance the value of the work.

Andean village life is vibrantly depicted through folk tales, stories, and art in this compendium of South American culture with a special focus on the famous Andean practice of weaving and other textile arts. The stories and paintings exhibited within take a rare, in-depth look into South American native people, their customs, everyday lives, incidents of change, and profound appreciation and celebration of the natural world, bringing forth Incan rituals and beliefs about the living earth (Pacha Mama), the majestic mountains worshipped as Apus, the sky and its “black constellations,” the meanings attached to sacred water, the events of nature and ever-changing climate, and the stages of life and growth. Stories include The Gift of Quinoa, The Bear Prince, and The First Haircutting, all interspersed with distinguished, imaginative, and expansive paintings that vividly illustrate scenes of little-known but time-honored traditions, like the annual Pilgrimage to the Ice Mountain, the ceremony of Qoyllu Riti, Star of the Snow, and other events that mark the life of Inca people in the past and today.

Hundreds of vintage and fascinating full-color photos illustrate this bilingual book that explores the traditional weavers of Chinchero, Peru, at work on their traditional dress and costume. From shearing the wool and dyeing and spinning the yarn to the final weaving on traditional backstrap looms, all the aspects of this traditional art are detailed, and pattern motifs representing flora, fauna, geographical features, farm tools, and more are cataloged and explained. The role of special textiles in the rituals and festivals of the community is documented and the evolution of weaving over four generations is told in the voices of the elders of Chinchero.

Weaving Lives presents a concise overview of the people, the processes, and the history of handmade textiles in the Cusco district, as portrayed in the museum of Traditional Textiles of Cusco. Typical techniques, motifs, daily life, and special celebrations are shown in photographs from Highland weaving villages and from displays in the museum. Presented in English and Spanish, this is a good introduction to the fine weaving traditions of the Andes.

The CTTC regularly organizes workshops of training for the weavers, staff, and board members with the aim to enhance skills and knowledge in different areas such as textile preservation, product development, accounting, legal issues, health care, among other community development areas.

The Education Department at the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco encourages interaction between weavers and the public through a variety of programs. Each year, the department holds events for the young weavers, the adult weavers, and the general public to teach about textile traditions and to inspire greater respect for them. For the adult weavers and young weavers, this includes activities such as classes on ancient Peruvian textiles, annual weaving competitions, and workshops to revive pre-Columbian techniques.

The Away Riqcharicheq Weaving Center in Chinchero is currently hosting part of the exhibition “Reclaiming Ancient Paracas: The Struggle to Recover a Textile Technique” opened in Museo Inka in 2019. 
 

The Center was privileged to receive different awards in the last years.

The Center in conjunction with Andean Textile Arts, organization of the United States, celebrate Christmas with the children, weavers, the elderly and residents of the ten communities and districts that are part of the Center. During the famous "chocolatadas", the CTTC family gathers in each weaving association, sharing pleasant moments while enjoying hot chocolate, breads and cakes. The children of the communities look forward to the Christmas season with joy.

The weavers of the ten associations, years ago agreed to have an especial sports day dedicate to the CTTC`s Anniversary during the month of April with the participation of all weavers and the CTTC`s team. This event takes place in a different community every year, hosted and organized by weavers’ associations and their authorities.