Textiles of Peru Part #5: Peruvian Designers Taking Tradition Forward

04-12-2024

Throughout October FashionCapital took a deep dive into Peru’s rich textile and embroidery history; from the use of natural fibres and dyes to the symbolism of certain colours and motifs. Many of these skilled and traditional methods continue today, and with sustainability at the top of everyone’s agenda designers and brands are keen to revisit these ancestral techniques.

Providing technical support for up and coming designers on The Modern Artisan initiative, a programme, run by YOOX NET-A-PORTER and The King’s Foundation, the Fashion-Enter Ltd team noticed a strong emphasis on the use of natural fibres, plant based dyes and skilled artisan techniques. Sustainability and circularity are terms that seem to be bandied about on a regular basis, however with regulations and goal-hitting strategies becoming a reality it seems we could all learn from Peru’s long-established textile heritage.

South American designers are embracing traditional methods such as:

The use of local materials such as alpaca and vicuña wool, Pima cotton, vegetable leather and plant-based washes and dyes.
Incorporating artisanal techniques such as weaving, knitting, embroidery created by hand, adding provenance.
Working with skilled communities. Peru’s well-established relationship with textiles ensures that there are plenty of skilled workers / community hubs that can provide traceable and ethical supply chain skills.

According to www.statista.com:

The Apparel market in Peru is projected to generate a revenue of US$ 5.22bn in 2024.
It is anticipated to experience an annual growth rate of 3.03% (CAGR 2024-2029).
Among all the segments within the market, Women’s Apparel holds the largest share with a market volume of US$2.40bn in 2024.
There is an estimated volume growth of 2.0% in 2025.
The average volume per person in the Apparel market is expected to be 22.4pieces units in 2024.
The Peruvian apparel market is experiencing a surge in demand for traditional Andean textiles and garments.

While there is a demand for traditional Peruvian goods from the 2.5 million tourists (2023 data from Statista), designers based in the country are keen to showcase the regions artisanal textiles and skills in a fresh, contemporary light. Designers such as Annaiss Yucra and her love of vibrant colour, crochet and knitwear to create a youthful brand, and Kero Design, who’s high-quality collections are inspired by the Peruvian mountains and surrounding environment. Other designers to note include, woven bags, clothing and accessories by Amarena and bold knitted designs created by Peruvian artisans for Lucy Barandiaran and her brand Fringe.

Giving Peruvian materials and techniques a technology-infused twist is fashion designer Genaro Rivas. A former London College of Fashion student Rivas is combining 3D printing, solar energy and laser cutting with hand woven raffia, organic dye prints and baby alpaca textiles. Rivas is the first Peruvian designer to show at London Fashion Week and he, along with a growing core, are proud to lead the way with their artisanal heritage and sustainable business model, an ethos that the industry needs to urgently take on board.

Sources:

Previous articles:

Textiles of Peru Part 4 Andean Goods Today Identifying Quality and Authenticity

Textiles of Peru Part 3 Patterns Symbols and Motifs

Textiles of Peru Part 2 The Process from Fleece to Yarn