Meet the Artisans

Behind every piece are hands that have inherited knowledge across generations.

At Kusaya we work directly with artisans from Sucre, Bolivia — people who have dedicated their lives to mastering techniques that have been passed down for centuries. We don't work with factories. We work with families.

MARÍA ROJAS — Wicker weaving
18 years of experience

María learned to weave wicker from her mother at the age of twelve. Each basket she creates takes between one and two full days of careful, uninterrupted work. No two pieces are identical — the slight variations in texture and shape are the mark of her hands, not a defect.

"Each basket takes me two full days. I learned from my mother, who learned from hers. When you hold one of my pieces, you are holding three generations of knowledge."

ELENA QUISPE — Jalq'a textiles
25 years of experience

Elena is one of the most skilled Jalq'a weavers in the Chuquisaca region. She works on a traditional backstrap loom using hand-spun wool, creating the complex mythological compositions that define Jalq'a textile art. A single piece can take several weeks to complete.

"The figures I weave are not decoration. They tell stories that belong to my people. Every animal, every shape has a meaning that goes back centuries."

CARLOS FLORES — Wood carving
12 years of experience

Carlos works with locally sourced Bolivian wood, selecting each piece by hand based on its grain and natural character. He carves without templates — every form emerges from his reading of the wood itself.

"I choose each piece of wood personally. The grain tells me what shape it wants to become. I just help it get there."

HOW WE WORK WITH ARTISANS

We pay fair wages above local market rates.
We do not impose production quotas or deadlines.
Each artisan controls their own pace and process.
A portion of every Kusaya sale goes directly to the artisan who made your piece.
We are building long-term relationships, not one-time transactions.

When you buy from Kusaya, you are not just buying an object. You are supporting a person, a family, and a tradition that deserves to continue.

Questions about our artisans? Email us at kusaya.inf@gmail.com