TOMÁS MAMANI

Location: Colquepata, Cusco
Altitude: 3,679 meters above sea level
District: Colquepata
Province: Paucartambo
Region: Cusco

Colquepata is an Andean district defined by its serene landscapes, expansive valleys, and a deep sense of cultural continuity. Located within the province of Paucartambo—widely recognized as the folkloric capital of Peru—this territory holds a strong connection to living traditions that remain active and meaningful in everyday life.

Paucartambo is especially renowned for the Festivity of the Virgin of Carmen, celebrated every July 16th. This iconic celebration brings together music, dance, and elaborate costumes, representing one of the most important expressions of intangible cultural heritage in the country. Within this cultural ecosystem, Colquepata plays a vital role, preserving traditions that are passed down through generations.

The journey through this region also reveals its natural richness. Among its landscapes, the Checopia Cascay lagoon stands out as a place of quiet beauty, reflecting the harmony between nature and the communities that inhabit it.

Tomas learned the art of embroidery at a very young age, driven by a deep love for his culture and traditions. For him, embroidery is not only a technical skill but a form of storytelling—one that allows him to translate identity, memory, and heritage into each piece he creates.

Today, he works alongside his wife, Santusa, a true master of the backstrap loom—one of the oldest and most significant textile techniques in the Andes. Her expertise reflects years of dedication and an intimate understanding of ancestral weaving practices.

Together, they have spent more than 20 years weaving and embroidering stories, combining techniques, materials, and cultural symbols into pieces that carry both personal and collective meaning. Their workshop is not only a place of production but a space where tradition is kept alive through daily practice.

Their textile work has become their main economic activity, allowing them to sustain their family while continuing to honor and preserve their cultural heritage. Each piece they create embodies a balance between tradition and livelihood, craftsmanship and identity.

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.