There are many designers – myself included – who have taken inspiration from the traditional textiles of Peru. For me, it’s the vibrant hues woven together to create stunning colour combinations and patterns that I have been drawn to, which in turn has created a fascination for me with Peru itself. The indigenous people, their culture and the country’s landscape.
So imagine my excitement when I came across Awamaki Lab, a fashion mentorship program that works in conjunction with Awamaki, a Peruvian NGO that runs a textile revitalization project to help impoverished Quechua women weavers improve their skills, gain financial independence and secure a reliable source of income.
Image with permission from Awamaki Lab
Awamaki Lab explores sustainability, ethical sourcing and product innovation. The program – lasting three months - fosters the cross-cultural partnership between the designers and Awamaki’s indigenous weavers.
Image with permission from Awamaki Lab
The designers also receive mentorship from leaders in the ethical design sector. Tara St. James, owner and creative director of New York label Study is Awamaki Lab’s first Design Mentor. Tara is a talented pioneer of ethical fashion – I’ve previously written about her design collective on this blog.
Image with permission from Awamaki Lab
Awamaki Lab offers an unparalleled opportunity for selected designer participants to develop a capsule collection in the serene environment of Ollantaytambo, Peru. Through the process, designers hone their artistic skills and lend a modern perspective to Awamaki’s range of products. This will improve the organization’s marketability and help to stimulate economic growth in the isolated, rural communities where Awamaki works.
Program dates for Awamaki Lab design mentorship program begin August 2010. Full details can be found at www.awamaki.org/awamaki-lab/
