C O M PA S S
“You can really see the ‘hand’ in the pieces that we
have made and sourced. You can understand that someone
actually made these pieces with love and attention.”
What qualities of handmade objects do you think has
made it desirable even more so today, in the midst of
faster production and automation?
You can really see the ‘hand’ in the pieces that we have
made and sourced. You can understand that someone actually
made these pieces with love and attention. And with the
pieces that we source as vintage, a lot of them are likely at least
50+ years old, and they still have a lot of life left in them. You
don’t get quality like this from mass-produced products.
You've expanded your range from ponchos to blankets
to even rucksacks. Any other applications of the weaves
that you are interested to pursue?
We are working now on some home goods, pillow cases
and tableware. We’ve also starting a one-of-a-kind fashion
line where we are using vintage jackets and combining them
with vintage ponchos. We also do custom-made doggie
ponchitos. We would really love to work with all of the major
weaving areas in Bolivia so they are all represented.
How has your experience with Ponchos Rojas enriched
your understanding of the world as an avid traveler?
It has been very eye-opening to travel to small
communities around Bolivia and see the reality they live
in. It’s always good to get out of the bigger cities to really
see the daily life of the people in a community, sit with
them on their territory and break bread with them. We try
to do this everywhere we travel.
The traditional art of weaving survives with the growth
of its practitioners. Any other initiatives you are a part of
that helps encourage the youth to take up the craft and
keep the weaving tradition alive?
Yes, we started a non-profit called Ponchos Libres, where
10 percent of our earnings go toward our goal of preserving
and keeping this art form alive, through weaving programs and
community schools to teach the younger generations. We are
currently working with four communities from La Paz and
Potosi that specialize in different types of weaving or embroidery.
Ponchos Rojas and Ponchos Libres are set up to help share the
high Andes weaving traditions with the world and in effect help
preserve these traditions for generations to come.
Ponchos Rojas' latest offerings: The Livichuco
table runner and the Mollo pillow cases
Save a tribe with Ponchos Rojas. Visit their website at ponchosrojas.com and follow them on Instagram at @ponchosrojas