HOMETOWN
Huanchaco is the birthplace of our founder, and where the atelier is rooted—a coastal town in northern Peru, in the La Libertad region, where the ocean, history, and community life are woven into daily life and our identity.
Huanchaco is a place of living traditions. Here, the Caballitos de Totora were born—small boats crafted from totora reeds grown along the shore. Their use stretches back over 3,000 years, to the Moche and Chimú cultures. For us, fishing with them keeps a tradition alive, connecting us to our ancestors. It is a practice that is both technical and symbolic— transmitting knowledge of the sea and its resources from generation to generation, while economically supporting the livelihoods of many families.
Throughout the year, the town gathers to celebrate festivals that reflect its culture. Every five years, the Bajada de la Virgen del Socorro takes place: the statue of the Virgin is carried in procession from her church to Trujillo and back, accompanied by fishermen, families, and traditional dances as Los Diablos, Las Payas, and Los Negritos de Huanchaco—a festivity that has endured for over 300 years.
Our home was inhabited and traversed by the ancient Moche and Chimú civilizations. Their profound relationship with the sea, the land, and handcraft continues to impress us. They produced an extraordinary variety of ceramics, textiles, jewelry, and other artifacts, through techniques of personal exploration and exchange, remarkable not only for their technical mastery but also for their deep spiritual significance.
Nearby lie Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in the Americas, Huaca del Sol y la Luna, and El Brujo—central sites of these cultures, where the scale of their constructions and ceremonial spaces allows us today to navigate the echoes of their world.
