Cerapio Vallejo depicts row after row of mountains in tribute to his Andean homeland. Vallejo's preferred weaving technique, called kilin, is characterized by the uses of small, straight stitches. Although extra fabric and 15 days of hard work are required for kilin-produced rugs, the end result is an extraordinarily clear illustration. Vallejo achieves the rug's rich colors by using natural dyes.
"I draw inspiration from our ancient Peruvian cultures, Andean village life, and from our snow-capped mountains."
Latest Update “After 21 years we have grown in terms of our production and work infrastructure, and therefore expanding...Latest Update
“After 21 years we have grown in terms of our production and work infrastructure, and therefore expanding our staff, which has allowed more work for more families. We have managed to implement a dyeing laboratory, creating formulas with the advice of Swiss Chemistry, an important laboratory, to obtain uniform colors and be able to easily repeat orders for greater demands. One of the successes in recent years has been being able to sign a weaving service contract with a company that is dedicated to the wholesale export of handmade fabrics.
“One of the biggest challenges was our beginning, when we migrated from the province to the capital due to the terrorism of the 80s. We arrived at the end of South Lima, which did not have basic services. Thank God, today it has become a more central and pleasant place to work and live.
“In terms of my personal life, we have managed to educate all our children, and move our family forward, as well as being able to build a new home in an urbanization. I also recently had the opportunity to tour Europe with my wife, all thanks to hard work. My two children, Robert and Rosario, older and professional, had the opportunity to marry and start a family. Rosario lives in Italy with her husband Andrea and my two grandchildren. On the other hand, my eldest son lives in Lima in his own house with his wife Diana and my 2-year-old grandson. As for my last daughter, Victoria, she is finishing her professional career, and at the moment she is helping us with the management of the business.
“PromPerú gave us the opportunity to participate in the Annual Peru Fashion Fair, 2015. The San Ignacio de Loyola University gave me a recognition of participation for having exposed our successes at work. In addition to that, thanks to the great reception that we had with NOVICA in the 2000s, we had interviews with the newspapers known as EL COMERCIO and La Republica, the television channel 'América Televisión', and magazines such as 'América y Economía' and ' BusinessWeek'.
“Some of my great moments were the success of my children's careers and their subsequent marriages, seeing them come to fruition and enjoying the love of my grandchildren. As for the profession, I am very happy to continue my work which I began more than 40 years ago, where I saw my grandparents make similar fabrics in different materials and textures. Personally, I would like to share the work and art that I have been doing throughout my life. It has become a passion, not only for me, but for those around me. I feel satisfied and really happy to work in my workshop.”
Original Artist Story
Cerapio Vallejo's artistry has been featured in many periodicals, including Business Week, Sunset magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle, and on PBS Television.
"My art form was handed down to me from my parents and grandparents. But the quality of my work is the result of my long experience and the product of my careful observation over the years. I draw inspiration from our ancient Peruvian cultures, Andean village life, and from our snow-capped mountains.
"I have faced many challenges during my life, and I have learned from them. Perhaps the most difficult was when I was obliged to leave my house in Ayacucho with my family. I had to make this painful decision because there was no other way. This was during the 1980s, when terrorism was bleeding my people to death and there seemed little hope.
"Artisans in my region were considerably affected when tourism halted. Even now that Ayacucho is at peace, we remain in our city home; we created a new life here, and are thankful that Ayacucho is flourishing and we can visit it.
"Our sales have expanded greatly since we began working with you and I have been able to support some of my compatriots by offering them a job. Other artisans who used to help me but had to stop working for lack of sales are now able to return to my workshop – thankfully abandoning occupations that did not stimulate their creativity or interests.
"My greatest goal is to continue to educate and guide my children towards fulfillment, knowing that a good destiny must await them. I have three children; for me they represent the continuation of life – and hopefully of art, too.
"Novica is the change of my life, especially as a human being. Before, I sold my products at a local indigenous market. I never received a big order, or constant orders. I was planning to move to Cuzco with my looms and family, to try my luck with the tourist market there. But those plans stopped when I began working with you. In just a few months my income increased so much that I couldn't believe it.
"I became a top-selling artisan. I have now been able to pay for my three kids' education. My little girl is now at the University! To be able to give my family a better lifestyle and security pleases me. You recognize and value my art, respect a fair price, and promote me as an individual. Thanks to you, people now know me worldwide. This has opened up many opportunities I never expected.
"Twenty-five fellow artisans now assist me with my orders, and I have been training them to become as well known as myself. My income has made it possible for me to finance the purchase of 15 lands for them, where they are able to build their own workshops. Their loyalty and trust make me so happy. I have been able to greatly improve my own workshop, to purchase a new house for my family, to purchase a computer and to get connected to the Internet, and to buy the first car anyone in this family has ever owned."
Only valid on the Normal shipping option for shipments to 48 Lower US states.
Discounted shipping price may not be applied to previous orders.
This item ships with a free artist storycard, so you can remember who you impacted today. Customized gift messages are also available with every order.
We want you to be 100% satified with your order, so if you are not completely happy with your item, you can return it within 60 days of receiving it.
We pack, ship, certify and 100% guarantee the quality of this item. Watch this video to see how.
This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Artists love to get backorders. Placing a backorder ensures that the artisan will do their best to create and deliver your item to our local office for shipment.
Although we cannot guarantee availability, we do expect to be able to fill the order within the timeframe indicated. But sometimes life happens - special materials may not be immediately available to the artist, or there might be some other circumstance beyond our control that could delay the shipment.
If for any reason we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will notify you.
In the unlikely even that we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will contact you and provide an updated delivery window.
This item has a special shipping flat fee which means that due to bulk, duties, or other special requirements, the item will be shipped to you via one of our special one-rate services. Shipping is only available to the United States (lower 48 States only).
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
BUST
35 - 36
37 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
WAIST
27 - 28
29 - 30
31 - 33
34 - 36
38 - 40
HIPS
37 - 38
39 - 40
42 - 43
45 - 46
49 - 50
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
CHEST
36 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
50 - 52
WAIST
30 - 32
32 - 34
35 - 37
38 - 41
43 - 45
NECK
14 - 14.5
15 - 15.5
16 - 16.5
17 - 17.5
18 - 18.5
SLEEVE
32.5
33.5
34.5
35.5
36.5
FINDING YOUR SIZE
Take your measurements with the tape measure over your under garments. If your measurements fall between sizes you may prefer the next larger size. Inseam, skirt and dress lengths vary by style and will be listed in the item description. Our sweaters are knit in standard American sizes, however actual measurements vary by style.
BUST / CHEST
Measure around the fullest part of chest under the arms and over the shoulder blades keeping the tape measure level.
WAIST
Measure around the smallest part of the waist keeping the tape measure comfortably loose. Most garments use the low waist measurement noted below.
LOW WAIST
Measure around the body approximately 1.5" below the natural waist (above). This is the area where most pants and skirts actually fit.
HIPS
Standing with your heels together, measure around the fullest part of the body approx 7"-8" below the waist.
NECK
Measure around the base of the neck keeping the tape measure comfortably loose.
SLEEVE
Bend elbow slightly and starting at the center back of the neck, measure across the shoulder, to the elbow and down to the wrist.
INSEAM
Our standard inseam length for women is 32" and 34" for men; however inseam measurements will vary slightly by style.
Belts with buckles are measured in inches that correspond to a waist size however, most people do not wear belts on the waist, they wear them closer to the hips. A buckle belt measurement is take from the end of the "pin" of the buckle to the middle hole on the belt. Generally there are 5 holes for size adjustment, with a 1" space between each, so the middle hole will the be average size of the belt.
For at tie belt (no buckle) measure the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This again is the medium size of the belt.
For a soft fabric tie belt it can be called "1 size fits most" and the entire length of the belt should be measured and listed.
See buckle/tie belt size standards below.
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
inches
26 - 30
28 - 32
31 - 35
34 - 38
38 - 42
cm
76 - 86
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
inches
30 - 34
32 - 36
35 - 39
39 - 43
43 - 47
cm
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
109 - 119
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
Sash tie length
Lay sash/tie out flat away from the garment and measure from end to end.
Belt with buckle
Measure from the end of the pin of the buckle (where it touches the buckle) to the middle hole.
Belt without buckle
Measure from the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This is will give you the medium size of the belt.
Download our printable ring sizing chart to find the perfect fit!
We refer to these items as "discounted wholesale". Such items carry a deeper wholesale discount than other items, and have greater potential to provide your business with healthier resale margins.
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UNICEF Market offers triple win pricing, where YOU the consumer, Children from around the world, and Artisans all benefit.
WIN # 1 You Save!
UNICEF Market's artisan-direct prices are made possible through our partnership with NOVICA, a leading fair trade organization that works directly with artisans in remote regions around the world in many of the same communities where UNICEF has missions. NOVICA’s ten global Artisan Empowerment Hubs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America provide interest-free microcredit loans to artisans and help them bring their handmade creations directly to you.
WIN # 2 Children Benefit!
UNICEF Market supports children by helping generate funds for UNICEF's programs dedicated to improving children's lives worldwide. These initiatives provide essential resources such as safe water, nutrition, education, health care, and emergency relief to children in need. Learn more here: UNICEF USA.
WIN # 3 Artisans Thrive!
UNICEF Market empowers artisans in emerging nations by offering a fair trade platform to sell their handcrafted goods, expanding their market reach and increasing their income. This support helps transform the lives of tens of thousands of artisans and their family members across the globe.
