We stood in the middle of Rosa’s home, with the dining table on our left and the couch on our right, looking on as she masterfully maneuvered the family loom. Her hands moved quickly, looping hundreds of wool threads into an intricate design. Quiet and unassuming, you’d never guess Rosa is a weaving legend, but one look at her work, and you’ll see how talented she is.
She is joined by thirteen other Mapuche weavers in the region. During our trip, we had the chance to visit these incredible women – each one weaves independently in their own homes, yet they all share the same love for the craft and want to see it to live on.
Beyond their unrivaled weaving expertise, these ladies are also savvy entrepreneurs. A couple of years ago, they banded together and learned to dye uniform colors and weave consistent patterns, all with the hopes of one day taking their trade beyond the local markets. This rugs collection is the result of all that hard work. Beaming with pride, they showed us their precious creations, excited for their designs to finally be in homes all around the globe.