Accomplishments
By working with experienced and socially conscious exporters, and their Peruvian government organizations, ADEX and PROMPEX, ATA was able to increase handcraft exports dramatically, hence increase benefits to many more artisans than would have been possible working only with small widely dispersed rural artisans. This less directly artisan-centered move was new for ATA.
In its first five years, 1994-1999 ATA had boosted export sales to over 9 million dollars, and created more than 12,000 jobs. By the end of the programs, more than 23 million dollars in handcraft exports are attributable to ATA’s product development and marketing work.
Repeat visits from ATA’s most creative and market-savvy designers were an important factor in the re-birth of Peru’s handcraft industry. They brought trend colors to traditional production and helped to revive double-face weaving, an ancient highly skilled weaving technique and revitalized the Chulucanas pottery industry with new and modern designs. Chulucanas Pottery, redesigned and developed through ATA’s consultants is now recognized as “Producto Bandera”, characteristic of Peruvian style and traditions.
Important buyers, like Jonathan Adler and Mesa International, who came to Peru with ATA in those early years are still sourcing production there. Exporters regularly visit their foreign clients and participate in trade shows in Europe and the U.S.
Communities Benefited
Beyond the capital of Lima, ATA worked with artisan groups in Chulucanas, Cajamarca and Cuzco.
Partners & Collaborators
ADEX
PROMPEX
CARE
Technoserve
Contributors
ATA would like to thank the following organizations for providing funding for efforts in Peru:
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
International Finance Corporation
The Peruvian Government
The Hampshire foundation
