Cerapio Vallejo

handwoven wool rugs and tapestries

Latest Update “After 21 years we have grown in terms of our production and work infrastructure, and ... read more

2 reviews

Enabling Education Cerapio supported the studies of his three children, two of whom are already married and have families of their own. There is one left in school, Cerapio is by far proud of supporting his children, and he did it because of his art. Job Creator Cerapio prides himself on being able to employ other artisans. For years he has hired skilled weavers to help with his orders and unskilled workers eager to learn the weaving arts. Preserving Traditions Cerapio learned to weave from his father and grandfather. He draws inspiration from Peruvian culture and the Andean village life that he shared while growing up in Ayacucho. He treasures the art of weaving and the opportunities it has given him to preserve this centuries-old Peruvian tradition by teaching it to other artisans. Moving On Up At a time when Cerapio was barely able to support his family he discovered Novica and Novica's shoppers discovered him. His life changed. He was able to buy a new house, turn his old house into his workshop and educate his children. He continues to hire and train other artisans and has helped many of them to build their own workshops. He loves the recognition his work has found and the security it has brought his family. If you ever meet him, he will proudly tell you that he is the first member of his family to buy a car. Microcredit Financing Cerapio Vallejo has received 8 microcredit loans with 0% interest from Kiva and Novica, the first for $1350 and the most recent for $2850. Proceeds were used to purchase cotton and wool to continue production.

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The Andes Fulfillment Hub

Cerapio Vallejo handwoven wool rugs and tapestries

Latest Update

“After 21 years we have grown in terms of our production and work infrastructure, and therefore expanding our staff, which has allowed more work for more families. We have managed to implement a dyeing laboratory, creating formulas with the advice of Swiss Chemistry, an important laboratory, to obtain uniform colors and be able to easily repeat orders for greater demands. One of the successes in recent years has been being able to sign a weaving service contract with a company that is dedicated to the wholesale export of handmade fabrics.

“One of the biggest challenges was our beginning, when we migrated from the province to the capital due to the terrorism of the 80s. We arrived at the end of South Lima, which did not have basic services. Thank God, today it has become a more central and pleasant place to work and live.

“In terms of my personal life, we have managed to educate all our children, and move our family forward, as well as being able to build a new home in an urbanization. I also recently had the opportunity to tour Europe with my wife, all thanks to hard work. My two children, Robert and Rosario, older and professional, had the opportunity to marry and start a family. Rosario lives in Italy with her husband Andrea and my two grandchildren. On the other hand, my eldest son lives in Lima in his own house with his wife Diana and my 2-year-old grandson. As for my last daughter, Victoria, she is finishing her professional career, and at the moment she is helping us with the management of the business.

“PromPerú gave us the opportunity to participate in the Annual Peru Fashion Fair, 2015. The San Ignacio de Loyola University gave me a recognition of participation for having exposed our successes at work. In addition to that, thanks to the great reception that we had with NOVICA in the 2000s, we had interviews with the newspapers known as EL COMERCIO and La Republica, the television channel 'América Televisión', and magazines such as 'América y Economía' and ' BusinessWeek'.

“Some of my great moments were the success of my children's careers and their subsequent marriages, seeing them come to fruition and enjoying the love of my grandchildren. As for the profession, I am very happy to continue my work which I began more than 40 years ago, where I saw my grandparents make similar fabrics in different materials and textures. Personally, I would like to share the work and art that I have been doing throughout my life. It has become a passion, not only for me, but for those around me. I feel satisfied and really happy to work in my workshop.”

Original Artist Story

Cerapio Vallejo's artistry has been featured in many periodicals, including Business Week, Sunset magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle, and on PBS Television.

"My art form was handed down to me from my parents and grandparents. But the quality of my work is the result of my long experience and the product of my careful observation over the years. I draw inspiration from our ancient Peruvian cultures, Andean village life, and from our snow-capped mountains.

"I have faced many challenges during my life, and I have learned from them. Perhaps the most difficult was when I was obliged to leave my house in Ayacucho with my family. I had to make this painful decision because there was no other way. This was during the 1980s, when terrorism was bleeding my people to death and there seemed little hope.

"Artisans in my region were considerably affected when tourism halted. Even now that Ayacucho is at peace, we remain in our city home; we created a new life here, and are thankful that Ayacucho is flourishing and we can visit it.

"Our sales have expanded greatly since we began working with you and I have been able to support some of my compatriots by offering them a job. Other artisans who used to help me but had to stop working for lack of sales are now able to return to my workshop – thankfully abandoning occupations that did not stimulate their creativity or interests.

"My greatest goal is to continue to educate and guide my children towards fulfillment, knowing that a good destiny must await them. I have three children; for me they represent the continuation of life – and hopefully of art, too.

Cerapio Vallejo

Latest Update

“After 21 years we have grown in terms of our production and work infrastructure, and therefore expanding our staff, which has allowed more work for more families. We have managed to implement a dyeing laboratory, creating formulas with the advice of Swiss Chemistry, an important laboratory, to obtain uniform colors and be able to easily repeat orders for greater demands. One of the successes in recent years has been being able to sign a weaving service contract with a company that is dedicated to the wholesale export of handmade fabrics.

“One of the biggest challenges was our beginning, when we migrated from the province to the capital due to the terrorism of the 80s. We arrived at the end of South Lima, which did not have basic services. Thank God, today it has become a more central and pleasant place to work and live.

“In terms of my personal life, we have managed to educate all our children, and move our family forward, as well as being able to build a new home in an urbanization. I also recently had the opportunity to tour Europe with my wife, all thanks to hard work. My two children, Robert and Rosario, older and professional, had the opportunity to marry and start a family. Rosario lives in Italy with her husband Andrea and my two grandchildren. On the other hand, my eldest son lives in Lima in his own house with his wife Diana and my 2-year-old grandson. As for my last daughter, Victoria, she is finishing her professional career, and at the moment she is helping us with the management of the business.

“PromPerú gave us the opportunity to participate in the Annual Peru Fashion Fair, 2015. The San Ignacio de Loyola University gave me a recognition of participation for having exposed our successes at work. In addition to that, thanks to the great reception that we had with NOVICA in the 2000s, we had interviews with the newspapers known as EL COMERCIO and La Republica, the television channel 'América Televisión', and magazines such as 'América y Economía' and ' BusinessWeek'.

“Some of my great moments were the success of my children's careers and their subsequent marriages, seeing them come to fruition and enjoying the love of my grandchildren. As for the profession, I am very happy to continue my work which I began more than 40 years ago, where I saw my grandparents make similar fabrics in different materials and textures. Personally, I would like to share the work and art that I have been doing throughout my life. It has become a passion, not only for me, but for those around me. I feel satisfied and really happy to work in my workshop.”

Original Artist Story

Cerapio Vallejo's artistry has been featured in many periodicals, including Business Week, Sunset magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle, and on PBS Television.

"My art form was handed down to me from my parents and grandparents. But the quality of my work is the result of my long experience and the product of my careful observation over the years. I draw inspiration from our ancient Peruvian cultures, Andean village life, and from our snow-capped mountains.

"I have faced many challenges during my life, and I have learned from them. Perhaps the most difficult was when I was obliged to leave my house in Ayacucho with my family. I had to make this painful decision because there was no other way. This was during the 1980s, when terrorism was bleeding my people to death and there seemed little hope.

"Artisans in my region were considerably affected when tourism halted. Even now that Ayacucho is at peace, we remain in our city home; we created a new life here, and are thankful that Ayacucho is flourishing and we can visit it.

"Our sales have expanded greatly since we began working with you and I have been able to support some of my compatriots by offering them a job. Other artisans who used to help me but had to stop working for lack of sales are now able to return to my workshop – thankfully abandoning occupations that did not stimulate their creativity or interests.

"My greatest goal is to continue to educate and guide my children towards fulfillment, knowing that a good destiny must await them. I have three children; for me they represent the continuation of life – and hopefully of art, too.

The Andes Fulfillment Hub

Maker BadgeEnabling Education

Cerapio supported the studies of his three children, two of whom are already married and have families of their own. There is one left in school, Cerapio is by far proud of supporting his children, and he did it because of his art.

Maker BadgeJob Creator

Cerapio prides himself on being able to employ other artisans. For years he has hired skilled weavers to help with his orders and unskilled workers eager to learn the weaving arts.

Maker BadgePreserving Traditions

Cerapio learned to weave from his father and grandfather. He draws inspiration from Peruvian culture and the Andean village life that he shared while growing up in Ayacucho. He treasures the art of weaving and the opportunities it has given him to preserve this centuries-old Peruvian tradition by teaching it to other artisans.

Maker BadgeMoving On Up

At a time when Cerapio was barely able to support his family he discovered Novica and Novica's shoppers discovered him. His life changed. He was able to buy a new house, turn his old house into his workshop and educate his children. He continues to hire and train other artisans and has helped many of them to build their own workshops. He loves the recognition his work has found and the security it has brought his family. If you ever meet him, he will proudly tell you that he is the first member of his family to buy a car.

Maker BadgeMicrocredit Financing

Cerapio Vallejo has received 8 microcredit loans with 0% interest from Kiva and Novica, the first for $1350 and the most recent for $2850. Proceeds were used to purchase cotton and wool to continue production.

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