Honouring Craftsmanship and Connection

In early October, Jeanne traveled to Peru, a country where textile traditions are deeply woven into both people and landscape. She was joined by Jimena, the newest member of the ZAZI team, whom the ZAZI community met through Woven Women. Based in Peru, Jimena brings extensive knowledge of local weaving communities, production practices, and the cultural bridges that connect them.

The Heart of Lima

Their journey began in Lima, at the vibrant heart of Peru’s garment industry. In the bustling district of Gamarra, the largest garment district in Peru and all of South America, garment workers, pattern makers, tailors, and seamstresses keep the city’s fashion scene moving with energy and skill. With ZAZI’s sample coats in hand, Jimena met with the pattern maker Rocío to begin developing new designs, while Jeanne and Jimena explored fabric vendors in search of natural materials. During this time, linen was chosen to line the new sample of the Madina coat, ensuring that the production chain flowed seamlessly from concept to creation.

Into the Andes

From Lima, the journey led into the majestic Andes mountains, where ancient weaving traditions continue to thrive with extraordinary skill and intention. They visited Amaru Village in Pisac, the weaving community of Chinchero, and the town of Patacancha, each with unique connections to alpaca fiber, natural dyeing, and ancestral iconography. In these highland communities, the stories embedded in the textiles are as important as the textiles themselves — the plants gathered for dyes, the symbolic patterns woven into cloth, and the alpacas roaming freely across the rugged peaks.

For the upcoming ZAZI collection, the team partnered with the artisans of Chinchero, a group of women weavers led by Norberta Auccacusi Huamán. Guided by Jimena’s deep understanding of local craft, alpaca textiles and linings were selected for their quality, origin, and the stories they carry. Each visit added to the team’s understanding of what lies behind every woven piece: time, patience, and knowledge passed down through generations.

From the Andes to the Amazon

Before their journey into the Andes, Jeanne and Jimena also visited Cantagallo, an urban community that has grown into a cultural hub for the Shipibo-Conibo people who migrated from the Peruvian Amazon. Founded in 2000 by families seeking opportunities while remaining rooted in tradition, Cantagallo sits along the Rímac River as a reminder of its people’s origins.

Here, color and story are part of daily life. Artists paint traditional Shipibo iconography on tocuyo fabric and murals, create beaded necklaces from seeds and natural rainforest materials, and embroider textiles that carry the memory of the Amazon into the city. Their work reflects resilience and cultural continuity within an urban landscape.

What Craft Really Means

As Jeanne and Jimena traveled from the garment workers of Gamarra to the weavers of the Andes and the artists of the Amazon, the journey revealed the heart of ZAZI’s work. It became clear that craftsmanship is about more than what is made; it is about the relationships, traditions, and stories that shape it. True collaboration requires time, trust, and respect.

Through connections like Jimena’s and the communities she supports, ZAZI continues to create in ways that honor people, place, and story.

We are so excited to soon share the Peru collection with you — a celebration of heritage, craft, and connection that spans landscapes and generations.