The CTTC following its mission have been working in many projects over three decades to: research, experiment, build skills, socialize and preserve the Andean Textile Traditions.
Weavers from the Ten Communities
Blue is famously known as the hardest color to dye naturally. It only can be produced with a single plant: Indigo or Anil in Spanish. Its dyeing process is long, very difficult, and can easily be frustrated by any change in pH, temperature, exposure to oxygen, among other factors. Both great experience and great luck are required to naturally produce beautiful blue dyes.
Weavers from the Ten Communities
Textile Innovations
Youth Weavers Students in Cusco
The Center supports and promotes young weaver groups who are doing superior studies in Cusco city, to continue to weave. These young weavers are the children of the weaver’s in the ten associations that CTTC works with. Many of these students require opportunities to create income for their needs. Also, they are master weavers who could share their skills in the administration work in the main office of CTTC in Cusco City.
All Lovers of Textile Art
The Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco has organized three international weaving gatherings so far. The CTTC Tinkuy: Gathering of the Textile Arts was created with the intention to reunite and give a platform to local weavers to participate, learn, share, and promote the Andean textile traditions with other weavers, scholars, Andean textile lovers, researchers, and the general public. Each Tinkuy has presented a remarkable program lauded by participants
Weavers from the Ten Communities
Paracas and Nazca Looping
Weavers from Pitumarca
Ticlla: Discontinuous Warp and Weft
Weavers from the Ten Communities
Mummy Juanita’s Textile Replica
Weavers from the Ten Communities
Replica of Simon Bolivar’s Poncho
Weavers from the Ten Communities
Replica of San Martin’s Poncho
Weavers from Chinchero
This project was born in the fall of 2018 carried out by the first CTTC weavers association, the master weavers of the "Away Riqchariqcheq" weaving center of Chinchero. The goal of the weavers was to weave in pieces and join later each module to create the largest traditional Manta of Chinchero. It was a communal decision made with the dream to accomplish something unique and special due that some master weavers are aging. Initially aiming to participate in the Guinness World Records, the weavers began working together towards their one-of-a-kind goal, spending several months spinning, naturally dyeing (especially with indigo as the base color present in the pampa), warping, weaving, and finally achieving to focused on the finishings of the giant lliklla. It was a deeply challenging project, probably the most defiant in these weavers' lives, taking nearly a year to its completion under a very tight time scheduled. Once the Chinchero weavers gave birth to the biggest and most powerful lliklla of modern times, they needed even to be assisted by their husbands when moving it, since its weight surrounded the 110 kilos and their total dimensions achieved the 120 cm x 110 cm. It was a dream to produce the largest piece of handspun yarn with naturally dyed colors woven in the ancestral Andean backstrap loom.
Weavers from the Ten Communities
Development of New Products: Deepening the Recovered Ancestral Techniques
Weavers from the Ten Communities
The Khipu as a Record Workshop
Weavers from the Ten Communities
The Recovery of Tapestry Weaving in the Cusco Region
Andean weavers are currently facing multiple difficulties due to the consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Before the outbreak of the pandemic, Cusco visitors used to support the continuity of their traditional art by purchasing their exquisite textiles. Their cultural production has become their main source of income since their.
weaving associations partnered with the CTTC.
Now, in the middle of the state of emergency in Peru, their livelihoods have been put at risk. In these challenging times, the weavers need our support more than ever. We can all help these extraordinary textile artists to continue.
preserving their traditions while making a living through the preservation of their ancestral art.
Please consider donating to our fund to aid the weavers from the ten weaving associations that are part of the
CTTC family.
