Raquel and Gregor

Raquel and Gregor alpaca accessories

"My name is Raquel Iriarte de Brenner and I was born in the province of Piura. I describe my work as an art form, and I've been dedicated to it along with my husband, Gregor. Our garments carry the name 'Sillpa,' which is an ancient Aymara word that implies 'softness,' 'comfort,' and 'pleasure.'

"What draws me to weaving is the opportunity to work with natural fibers by rescuing ancient Inca weaving techniques. The greatest challenge I have faced is to educate my children in the right path so they may have a professional career. As far as work is concerned, the greatest challenge has been to present our work to people from around the world."

"My name is Gregor Brenner Knoch. I come from an artistic background, therefore the world to me seems more about creativity than technology. Each person is an artist at heart, I think we only need to let our 'artist' out.

"What motivates me to do this kind of work is to see natural fibers transformed into garments. We use as reference natural colors, including those you see in the Andean landscape, the jungle, and the coast.

"We use natural materials including alpaca wool, fine cotton, and silk. We help an Andean community by employing weavers on traditional looms who then help us finish each piece by hand. Sillpa is dedicated to preserving Peru's millenary weaving traditions.

"We would like to give our thanks to everyone. We would like to thank you for supporting our art, which in turn, will benefit many Peruvian families."

Handmade: A Global Artisan Marketplace Lima, Peru

"What draws me to weaving is the opportunity to work with natural fibers by rescuing ancient Inca weaving techniques. The greatest challenge I have faced is to educate my children in the right path so they may have a professional career. As far as work is concerned, the greatest challenge has been to present our work to people from around the world."

"My name is Gregor Brenner Knoch. I come from an artistic background, therefore the world to me seems more about creativity than technology. Each person is an artist at heart, I think we only need to let our 'artist' out.

"What motivates me to do this kind of work is to see natural fibers transformed into garments. We use as reference natural colors, including those you see in the Andean landscape, the jungle, and the coast.

"We use natural materials including alpaca wool, fine cotton, and silk. We help an Andean community by employing weavers on traditional looms who then help us finish each piece by hand. Sillpa is dedicated to preserving Peru's millenary weaving traditions.

"We would like to give our thanks to everyone. We would like to thank you for supporting our art, which in turn, will benefit many Peruvian families."

Andes Artisan Empowerment Hub

Explore the Andes region, once home to the Inca, Wari, Chavin and other ancient empires. Today, the influences of these ancient civilizations can be found in the artistic handicraft traditions that artisans use to create the vast array of jewelry, home furnishings, pottery, textiles, paintings and folk art that preserve the diverse, complex heritage of this colorful Latin land.

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Maker BadgeWorking with Disabilities

Among the quality control assistants at Raquel and Gregor's workshop is one who is profoundly deaf. The rest of the team takes great pride in the way they have learned to communicate with her. They treasure what she has taught them about communicating with her and with each other.

Maker BadgeJob Creator

Raquel and Gregor are able to provide work for a number of people, 90 percent of them women.

Maker BadgePreserving Traditions

Raquel and Gregor are dedicated to preserving the traditions woven into Peruvian culture from pre-Incan times. Like many before them, they learned their textile craft from elders in the community and they pass their knowledge to the younger artisans who work with them. Each piece produced in their workshop is woven on a wooden floor loom and finished by hand. Created from natural fibers - alpaca, cotton and silk - their work echoes the natural colors of the Peruvian landscape, reverberating with the rich hues of the mountains, the jungle and the coast.

Maker BadgeMoving On Up

Raquel and Gregor are deeply committed to building a sustainable workshop that offers a flexible supportive environment for the people who collaborate with them, most of whom are women. They have a special room at the workshop for the women to breastfeed or otherwise care for their children. Many of these women work solely for the purpose of being able to educate their children. Raquel and Gregor also have a deep respect for the environment and have installed solar panels in their workshop, a rarity in Peru.

Maker BadgeMicrocredit Financing

Raquel and Gregor has received 9 microcredit loans with 0% interest from Kiva and Novica, the first for $1400 and the most recent for $2850. Proceeds were used to buy more silk, cotton and alpaca wool for her shawls and accessories.

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Alternate image for Cool Shades Handwoven Baby Alpaca Blend Scarf from Peru Ocean Blues

$69.99

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Cool Shades Handwoven Baby Alpaca Blend Scarf from Peru 'Ocean Blues'

$69.99

Alternate image for Unisex Alpaca Blend Scarf Night Wolf

$67.99

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Unisex Alpaca Blend Scarf 'Night Wolf'

$67.99

(1)

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A Angelica I got this scarf for my husband because he loves black scarves (very basic taste) and I love alpacas. He used it this past cold spell, and loved it!

Alternate image for Pure Alpaca Wool Shawl from Peru Muse

$99.99

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Pure Alpaca Wool Shawl from Peru 'Muse'

$99.99

(1)

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M Margie Very nice. It is soft and warm.

Alternate image for Alpaca and silk shawl Olive Fields

$74.99

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Alpaca and silk shawl 'Olive Fields'

$74.99

(1)

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A Adela The shawl has a great warm color, stylish, beautifully crafts work

Alternate image for Hand Woven Blue Baby Alpaca Blend Poncho from Peru Sierra Sky

$99.99

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Hand Woven Blue Baby Alpaca Blend Poncho from Peru 'Sierra Sky'

$99.99

(2)

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Judith I've worn this poncho with a white blouse and jeans and it is very comfortable. Plus, I've gotten a lot of compliments on the colors. It is very soft to the touch, but I wish it was a little bit longer in the back and front. Excellent workmanship!

1 more comment

45 Reviews for

April 27, 2023

J Jane

My mother loved this shawl. I thought it was very elegant, and nice for a chilly night out. She lives in Florida, where normally it's warm, but at night it can get a bit chilly. What's nice is you can take it off if you get warm and stick it in your handbag. I like the fact that its made from alpaca wool, which is a rarer wool. Also, the color is very pretty and neutral; it pretty much goes w... read more

Raquel and Gregor

Raquel and Gregor

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