Small bag with woven designs from Peru, c. 2020 (TRC 2021.2073).While looking around the historic city of Maaseik in northeastern Belgium last week prior to going to see the Anglo-Saxon embroideries in the Sint Catharina church (see blog), Willem and I met Seppe Bleukx and his Peruvian wife, Venessa. They had set up a small stall selling Peruvian textiles inside a florist shop cum café. They have been helping a group of weavers in Peru who are badly affected by the lack of customers, local and tourists, in Peru.
Small bag with woven designs from Peru, c. 2020 (TRC 2021.2071).So the Family Bleukx are selling a range of bags and textiles made by the weavers in pop-up stalls in various parts of Belgium. We have bought three small bags for the TRC Collection (TRC 2021.2071, TRC 2021.2072 and TRC 2021.2073) and we are now wondering if we can help them by stocking the bags in the TRC Shop.
This is the story of VeinteVeinte as told by Seppe Bleukx and his wife Venessa:
VeinteVeinte or 20-20 in Spanish is a number which many people associate with a time of twists and changes. Despite what happened in 2020, VeinteVeinte for us represents a new start. The start of a new relationship between Peru and the world. I moved to Peru many years ago and met there Vanessa, who was born and raised in Cusco, the old Inca capital, and home to Machu Picchu.
Small bag with woven designs from Peru, c. 2020 (TRC 2021.2072).Over time we realised how much interest there is in unique, Peruvian handicrafts and accessories. When my sister Griet came to Peru last year, we felt that we must do something with this geographical and emotional connection and VeinteVeinte was born. Now, several months and lockdowns later, the time is ready for us to present our initiative to a much wider audience.
Basically, VeinteVeinte offers carefully selected handmade Peruvian gifts and goods such as textiles, bracelets, bags, purses, and blankets. We purchase everything directly from the people responsible for making these colourful items and in doing so deliberately cut out middlemen. This allows us, on the one hand, to offer the best prices to the makers and, on the other, to provide our clients with products that are not easily found outside of Peru.
The weaver Hermenegilda from Chinchero, Peru.We work directly with the weavers from the famous weaving town of Chinchero, an ancient Inca town located close to Cusco in South Peru. Hermenegilda is one of the main weavers in the town. She is also the one who ensures that VeinteVeinte offers a quality product, while at the same time making sure that all the benefits go to those that have earned them.
In these difficult times, the weavers of Chinchero have lost one of their main clients: international tourists. Therefore an important part of the VeinteVeinte initiative is to reach to these artisans directly and provide a positive outlook and market despite the lack of physical clients. For more information or collaborations, please contact us at at this web address.
30 June 2021.
