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Virginia Apaza Ticona

Born in the Puno region on November 15, 1972, Virginia Apaza Ticona is the second of six children. Her father raises alpacas and sells their wool. Her mother knits and crochets a variety of clothing articles, and Apaza learned at the age of 15. Aided by her aunts, the artisan sold her designs; in this way she was able to fund her university studies, where she specialized in social work.

Today, Apaza works as a consultant for merchandising handicrafts.

Over the years, she kept up her knitting hobby and in 2002 Apaza decided to dedicate all her time to textiles. Setting up a workshop in her home, she works with women's groups. She is fluent in the Aymara language. Being able to communicate with women and communities where this is the only language spoken permits her to aid them in selling their work.

Apaza works mainly in sheep wool, alpaca wool and alpaca blends, crocheting and knitting by hand and also on knitting machines.

"I am an artist who works with her hands, they make real the ideas the come to my mind. Having learnt the textile arts from my mother, I love to use my hands in the creation of a variety of things, because knitting is such a versatile art.

"I have knitted traditional dolls for a long time. I love to recreate traditional costumes, though I specialize in Quechua and Aymara styles. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with orders, that I have to ask other people to come in and help me stuff the dolls and put them together.

"Nowadays, my product range includes garments, dolls, handbags, and knitted toys shaped like the animals that live in the Andes.

"Working with alpaca wool is a family tradition that we lovingly share with you," she says. "I hope you like it."