Arpillera Art Quilts: The New Trend in Home Decor

Colorful, 3D art quilts are livening up homes across the country. Each piece is as unique as the artist who made it … will you catch the trend?

Sarasota, FL (PRWeb) January 26, 2007 -- In a poor district on the outskirts of Lima, Peru, emerging artist Silvia Huaman brings her amazing wall textiles to life with the help of designer Alessandra Bravo of Lucuma Designs. This six-year-old partnership provides life-changing work to impoverished textile crafters. They transform swimsuit factory leftovers and other scraps of fabric into amazing 3-D art quilts with scenes of flowers, Andean life, and more, thus bringing this colorful folk art to the front of Home Décor. These art quilts, or Peruvian Arpilleras, are taking America by storm starting with the New York Gift Show running from January 28th- February 1st.

Much like American quilters, arpillera makers work in small groups and often collaborate on larger pieces. Since a large arpillera may take weeks to finish, Silvia shares her gift for layout and fine detail by overseeing the work of other artists.

While there was always some work selling more simple wall hangings to tourists, Silvia and other arpillera makers really saw their fortunes change when Alessandra Bravo created a business to promote arpilleras in the United States and elevate the level of their art into home décor with impact.

"When we started, no one had heard of arpilleras, and even the people who had been to Peru had only seen the tourist souvenirs. But I knew that Peru had the talent, and I am fortunate to have found this group of women artist. These ladies do such good work, and no two pieces are ever alike."

Through the wonders of Fair Trade stores, independent gift shops, and museums, every day more people are discovering wall hangings by Silvia and eight partners that make up their workshop. Available both as wall hangings and as framed art pieces; Lucuma Designs presents the art of Silvia and her contemporaries in a way sure to fit any home.

So if you are looking for a unique gift with a great story, choose a Lucuma Designs Arpillera and be proud to give a gift that gives hope to many talented Peruvian artists. Visit www.lucuma.com to view Lucuma Designs' complete collection.

Promoting Art & Design Through Fair Trade

By guiding the creative process and empowering talented artists to go beyond the ordinary while developing opportunities for women and family workshops in Peru, Lucuma Designs brings you contemporary fine crafts and original folk art to inspire your imagination and brighten our world. As a socially responsible company, Lucuma Designs is a proud member of the Fair Trade Federation, an non-profit organization of businesses committed to help artisans and producers around the world improve their standard of living.

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