Hola And Welcome

Threads of Peru is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization (ngo) registered in Cusco, Peru. The founding members represent the countries of Canada, Australia, and Peru.

“Threads of Peru has been created to educate the world about the unique beauty and cultural significance of the Andean people and their textile traditions. Through the web, community tours, and international sales, we connect indigenous Andean weavers of Peru to a global market; contributing to the survival of this art form and to the health and well-being of the people that sustain it.”

Here you will find an ever-expanding body of information about Andean textile traditions. Wonderful cloth abounds in the highlands of Peru, and every sales pitch promises "handmade," "natural dyes," and "baby alpaca." However, not all of these products are created equal. Much of it is machine-made, with synthetic materials. Threads of Peru is here to connect you with the indigenous people whose fingers still work to continue an ancient tradition, which had almost vanished into history with the rise of factory-made synthetics. To this day, most consumers cannot tell the difference between machine-made, and authentic handmade textiles.

The traditional process begins when woolen fibers are sheared from sheep, llamas and alpacas, which surround the highland communities - often tended by the weavers themselves. Their wool is washed, spun by hand onto the p'huska, and coloured with natural dyes. The search for colour connects weavers from different communities, as their interest in a variety of hues requires them to buy or trade for plants, animals, and minerals that they can't find at home to dye with.

Using simple looms, made of little more than sticks, the coloured woolen fibers are painstakingly woven by hand into intricate patterns. Each weaving reflects both the shared traditions of the weaving community, as well as the individual creative voice of the weaver, at the time of its creation. The resulting works are some of the finest handmade fabrics to be found anywhere in the world.

Value is a perception, and perceptions are built on education and experience. Surely, anyone would place a higher value on a blanket woven by hand over the course of several months, than on a similar blanket produced by a machine in a few hours. Likewise, natural colours made with crushed insects, boiled leaves, mosses, flowers and fruits harvested and processed by hand, are certainly of a different value than shades created with chemical dyes.

Threads of Peru hopes to provide you with an understanding of the Andean textile traditions, so that you might value them as we do. We have compiled the information here to start you on your way to discovery; and a new sense of respect for human skill in craft.

Many Andean communities are too remote to have much of a market at all. Thus, weavers often lack the income to support their families. Threads of Peru connects remote villages to an international market - enhancing the economic livelihoods of weavers, enriching their textile and cultural traditions, and supporting the health and well-being among community members.

Please take the time to read through the information here, visit our store, and maybe even visit Peru.

We thank you for your interest.