Handwoven Textiles in Peru: Craft Shaped by People, Place and Generations

At the heart of ZAZI’s work in Peru are the women artisans who preserve and evolve traditional Peruvian textile craftsmanship. In the Andean region of Chinchero, these artisans create handwoven textiles that carry generations of knowledge, cultural identity and care.

Women Artisans in Chinchero, Peru

ZAZI collaborates with a close-knit group of women artisans in Chinchero, Peru, ranging in age from 17 to 54, led by master weaver Norberta Auccacusi Huamán. The women work collectively, sharing ancestral weaving techniques passed down through generations. Older artisans mentor younger women, teaching them how to spin alpaca fibres, create natural dyes and understand the symbolic language of traditional Andean patterns. Learning is slow, intentional and deeply rooted in community — a core principle of slow fashion and ethical textile production.

A First-Time Collaboration with a Global Ethical Fashion Brand

This partnership marks an important milestone: it is the first time the women of Chinchero are working with a fashion brand, and the first time ZAZI is collaborating with artisans in Peru. When the women learned that ZAZI works with over 2,000 artisans worldwide, including communities in India and Afghanistan, their excitement was immediate and profound. Becoming part of a global network of artisans affirmed the value of their craftsmanship and opened new sustainable opportunities. Together, ZAZI and the women of Chinchero are pioneering a new, ethical production model rooted in transparency, respect and long-term collaboration.

Building a Sustainable Textile Production Chain in Peru

ZAZI is creating this sustainable textile production chain in Peru from the ground up, working directly with the artisans at every step. This is a slow and patient process that prioritises quality, fair work and cultural integrity. For the current season, only a limited number of handmade pieces have been produced. In the upcoming Fall/Winter collections, more ZAZI designs will take flight — organically and responsibly — as the collaboration continues to grow.

Inspired by Nature and Andean Heritage

The textiles created in Chinchero are deeply connected to their natural surroundings. Alpacas grazing in the Andean mountains provide the wool used for weaving, while locally gathered plants are transformed into natural dyes. Each colour reflects its place of origin. Traditional Andean iconography woven into the textiles represent mountains, animals and lagunas, making every piece a unique expression of the Peruvian land and heritage.

Empowering Women Through Sustainable Fashion

Beyond creating textiles, this collaboration has the potential to generate lasting economic and social impact. By providing stable, ethical work, it offers a sustainable income opportunity for women artisans in Chinchero and contributes to preserving traditional textile knowledge. This partnership has the potential to positively transform the local textile industry in this small Peruvian town, proving that slow, artisan-led production can be a powerful alternative to mass manufacturing.

ZAZI’s Commitment to Ethical and Slow Fashion

For ZAZI, working with artisans is never transactional. It is about building long-term relationships, honouring time-intensive craftsmanship and recognising the people behind every textile. Each ZAZI piece created in Peru carries the hands, stories and skills of the women who made it, woven with patience, pride and purpose.

TALLER de TEJIDOS PLANOS con Norberta

Taller de Tejidos Planos con Norberta is led by master weaver Norberta Auccacusi Huamán, who passes on her knowledge so that the art of natural dyeing and traditional Peruvian back strap loom weaving continues to live on. Her workshop, based in the village of Chinchero, is rooted in a women-led tradition, where ancestral techniques are shared across generations within the community.