HUGO NAVARRO

 

Location: Huancán, Huancayo
Altitude: 3210 a.s.l
District: Huancán
Province: Huancayo
Region: Junín

Hugo Navarro was born on November 21, 1972, in Huancán, a district located in the province of Huancayo, in Peru’s central highlands. This region is known for its striking natural landscapes, strong agricultural traditions, and a deep-rooted cultural identity that continues to shape the lives of its communities.

He comes from a family with a longstanding tradition in hat-making—an artisanal practice that has been passed down through generations as both a livelihood and a form of cultural expression. From an early age, Hugo was immersed in this world, learning by observing and assisting his elders. He inherited this knowledge from his grandfather and father, who devoted their lives entirely to mastering and preserving this craft.

At just 15 years old, Hugo began working alongside his father, marking the beginning of a lifelong dedication to hat-making. Through years of practice, patience, and discipline, he refined his technique and developed a deep respect for the materials, processes, and cultural significance behind each piece.

Today, hat-making remains his primary occupation and a central part of his identity. He works closely with his wife, who plays a fundamental role in supporting and sustaining their artisanal practice. Together, they form a family-driven workshop where tradition is not only preserved but actively lived on a daily basis.

Each hat created by Hugo reflects more than technical skill—it carries history, heritage, and the continuity of a family legacy. His work stands as a testament to the value of manual craftsmanship in a world increasingly driven by industrial production.

Looking ahead, Hugo’s greatest aspiration is to bring his hats to international markets, sharing his family’s tradition with a global audience. Through his work, he seeks not only to grow economically but also to ensure that this ancestral knowledge continues to thrive and reach new generations across different parts of the world.

OUR POSITIVE SOCIAL IMPACT

We have built a business model based on the quality of life of our collaborators, starting with fair salary payments. We generates employment cocreating with artists from vulnerable areas of different provinces of the country.
More than 23 popular artists from Ayacucho, Huánuco, Huancayo, Cusco, Pucallpa, Lima and Arequipa are benefited by our teamwork with the craftsmen.

COMMITMENT WITH THE ENVIRONMENT

We have an environmental, health and safety policy that establishes group goals for key environmental aspects. To promote the responsible consumption and to educate our community so they will value the environment as we do. We produce 3 collections a year. We reuse all the waste of our raw material, making accessories or dolls.The materials we use come from sustainable sources, as well as the wastes of deadstock materials from the textile and leather industry.

2025 - 2026 AIDER & NIIBIRI

The main objective is to promote the conservation of the Amazon forests, where families of native communities of the Shipibo Conibo and Cacataibo ethnic groups live, and to contribute to improving their quality of life.
We will achieve this by working hand in hand between NIIBIRI, AGUSTINA, and AIDER, in the development and co-creation of "Products with history", which come from a sustainable management of natural resources, through the Forestry Alliance initiative.