Nilda_Callaupa_Alvarez

Peruvian Quechua artisan and educator who preserved Andean weaving traditions while empowering indigenous women economically.

Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez (born 1956) is a Quechua weaver and founder of the Center for Traditional Textiles in Cusco, Peru. Growing up in the Andean highlands, she saw ancestral weaving techniques threatened by mass-produced textiles. In 1985, she co-founded the Chinchero Women's Association to revive traditional methods, later expanding into the CTTC. She developed a unique approach combining cultural preservation with economic sustainability: training women in ancestral techniques while connecting them to global markets through fair-trade partnerships. Her 'living museum' concept allows tourists to learn weaving directly from artisans, generating income and cultural pride. Alvarez's work has empowered over 5000 women across 12 communities, with textiles featured in museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She also established the first Quechua-language weaving school. Her story is told in 《Weaving Our Identity》. Explore her work at textiles.org.pe.