A solidarity-based cultural project: get to know the Ruta del Tejido Cooperative

Community work is the foundation for the growth and strengthening of a community; and it was precisely from this collective spirit that the Ruta del Tejido Cooperative was born, an organization that supports 18 families in the valley and is dedicated to producing and selling textiles made using ancestral techniques.

“Our organization began more than 20 years ago out of the need to guarantee an income and dignified work for ourselves and our families,” says Andrea Fiorina Gatti, a leader of the Cooperative. It emerged after the 2001 crisis, bringing together artisans who had already mastered weaving but couldn't find sales channels for their products.

The textile craftsmanship of the valley undergoes a fascinating process that begins with the collection of the fiber, obtained by shearing regional animals such as llamas and sheep. After selecting the material to be spun, it is dyed with natural pigments and then woven using various techniques. Fiorina explains that dyes such as black tea, turmeric, and peels are readily available year-round in the valley, facilitating production and ensuring a consistent supply of handicrafts. However, with increased demand, the cooperative now focuses particularly on the post-dyeing stages.

“For weaving, we use vertical looms to make rugs; horizontal looms for cushions and various garments such as ponchos, vests, and dresses. We also use different frames and a round loom,” Gatti explains. The cooperative aims to incorporate as many ancestral techniques as possible, with the goal of highlighting the customs of their people, a value that visitors to the valley who seek out their products recognize and deeply appreciate.

“We shared the dream that our children would have a place to work, with income, and today it is a beautiful cultural project that sustains us and allows us to transmit the culture we are part of, while we make it grow,” the weaver concludes proudly.