Ibulliance: Keepers of the Culture
Our driver, Uriel, pulls up alongside a two-story building in the historic district of Cusco, and our Fringe Road travelers are greeted by our host, Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez. The founder and director of the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco (CTTC), Nilda graciously welcomes us with a tour of the space. This unique center functions as a showroom, retail outlet, and museum, while also providing a workspace for the indigenous Quechua women who uphold the region's traditional wool textile heritage.
Standing before displays of historic costumes, tools, and textiles, Nilda recounts the history of woven cloth and its enduring significance in both past and present communities. She laments that many Quechua are now opting for synthetic yarns and cheap chemical dyes, or even pre-made goods from China, over the traditional crafts of spinning, weaving, crocheting, and knitting with local sheep, llama, and alpaca wool. These time-honored traditions, she observes, are fading away.
Displays and artisans at the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco. Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, lower right, speaking to Fringe Road travelers.
Born in Chinchero, Nilda, like many children, was tasked with tending her family's flock. While in the fields, she and her friends learned to spin and weave on traditional backstrap looms, and Nilda quickly recognized the profound history of her people. She went on to become the first woman from her community to attend college and became an expert in Cusqueñan textiles. Nilda began organizing her community to revitalize traditional weaving techniques and patterns, initially by gathering in homes to weave together. This collaborative effort ultimately led to her founding the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco non-profit.
Back at CTTC, we meet several artisans demonstrating the backstrap loom technique, finessing the tension of the warp with the slight rocking of their torsos, as the shuttle crosses back and forth producing colorful geometric patterns. Nilda leads us upstairs to delve deeper into the work of CTTC. This organization empowers young women who missed out on learning traditional weaving from their elders, helping them understand that the preservation of their ancestral knowledge rests with them. Currently, CTTC collaborates with ten communities in the Cusco region, dedicated to upholding distinctive ancestral styles, techniques, and designs.
With Gratitude,
Lasley Steever
Chief Marketing Officer
