ATA FELTING DESIGN

Colombia, as many other South American countries, is well known for the high quality craftsmanship. The high knowledge in knitting and weaving from the Andes zone (the region placed in the Andes moUntains) comes from the legacy of the savoir-faire of pre-hispanic ancestors who used to permeate their work with stories and conceptions about life. Unfortunately, the production and commercialisation of wool in Colombia has declined since the 80’s due to multiple social factors that have made sheep farmers less interested in this commerce (Artesanías de Colombia2 , 2014). These include: region industrialisation, modernisation of traffic lines, forced transfer of the farmers to big cities, etc.

With this in mind, the importance of this project relies in the opportunity to improve Colombian textile sector by elevating the local value of Colombian`s wool and craftsmanship through the introduction of felting, a technique practiced by only a small group of local artists. The introduction of this techniques aims to open the range design possibilities to artisans, which through the proper guide of design expertise, can permit them to enter the contemporary market demands and in the long run promote their welfare.