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Marleny Quijahuaman
"I'm Teresa Marleny Quijahuaman Yana. I was born in 1969 in the beautiful city of Arequipa with its extraordinary colonial architecture that mixes European characteristics with ancient Peruvian art. <br><br>
I'm an enterprising woman, constant and responsible. When I was a girl, I'd accompany my mother to her knitting classes, and this marked my life. That's when I discovered my own affinity for this lovely art. <br><br>
"I was still quite young when I began working. I created children's clothing in small quantities. For this, I used fine yarn from the summer season. <br><br>
"With perseverance, effort and dedication, my orders began to increase. People asked me for new designs every two weeks and I began adapting my work to the seasons. <br><br>
"It isn't easy to keep up with the seasonal trends. It's been a challenge to achieve this but it's been worth it. I feel very proud because, when you really want to reach your goals, you can't rest until you do. Even now, I continue striving each day to create quality apparel to distinguish my work from all the rest. <br><br>
"I firmly believe in the importance of constant innovation. This is what will make you stand out; if not, you'll be left by the wayside, unable to move forward and reach your goals. I also believe that innovation goes hand in hand with personal preparation and training. <br><br>
"My fascination with textile art arose from its versatility, breadth, and the variety of techniques and materials. They challenge me but encourage me to develop my creativity. I experiment by hand with knitting needles and crochet hooks, and sometimes with a home knitting machine. I mix different threads and yarns, and combine them with embroidery, for example. I really enjoy this ? it's definitely my passion and I want to do this forever. <br><br>
"I usually work in 100% alpaca and baby alpaca, the soft, fine fleece from the season's first shearing. <br><br>
"My inspiration comes from the beauty and fragility in the natural world that surrounds me. In this place where I grew up and have lived and experienced so much in my life.
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"I also find inspiration in the highland communities where I give classes so the artisans there can increase the value of their textile work. At the same time, I learn techniques from them, techniques that are dying out. <br><br>
"For the future, I hope to keep this workshop that is growing day by day with dedication and work. With the help of my family and children, I believe this will be possible. We do everything with passion and I really enjoy my work. My children are behind me in this. I also want to continue teaching others in small communities so that they can improve their art and also their quality of life."
