Aymara artisan Felipa Condori Zarzuri is native of the village of Guacoyo in the municipality of General Lagos. She has been dedicated to the production of Andean handicrafts with local identity since 1970. She was the first rural leader in the village of Visviri (Arica y Parinacota Region) upon forming the Indigenous Association of Women Artisans of General Lagos and has participated in various regional, national, and international fairs and exhibitions. Notable is her participation in fairs and tours in Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, and France.
During her career, she has made various efforts to support the trade of alpaca wool crafts from General Lagos in the markets of northern Chile and the country as a whole.
Additionally, she has made a valuable contribution to rescuing ancestral techniques, such as weaving on a four-treadle loom and designing unique artisanal products that have been awarded with distinctions and recognitions from UNESCO, World Crafts Council International, the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and the Agricultural Development Institute (INDAP).
Felipa Condori
I learned to weave from my mother as I played beside her and watched her weave. Today I live in the city, but I love the highlands and now that my children are older I am going to return to live in my village where my alpacas are. Our wool is 100% pure and the entire process is done by hand and artisanal. I like that my work is valued, that is what gives me strength every day. I could never give up what I do, it fills me with energy. I love what I do. This work is very beautiful. I also like to teach the younger ones so that our Aymara culture is not lost. My clients value my work and I love that. It’s lovely to be an artisan.
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