A Needle, A Thread, and A Tradition: A Story of Art and Resilience

Maritza Namuche was diagnosed with ALS in 2024, and her diagnosis has not stopped her from creating beauty. From a young age, Maritza was fortunate to learn the art of sewing from her mother, both by hand and by machine. Her first works were dolls she sold at Christmas, but her true passion was creating unique dresses, completely by hand, without relying on a sewing machine. Life took her down a different path when she married and became a mother, leaving aside her university studies. However, fate had other plans. A neighbor, aware of Maritza’s talent for sewing, introduced her to the Arpilleras of Chile, an art that opened a world of possibilities for her. At 23 Maritza discovered her vocation and ever since her hands have not stopped giving life to these artistic expressions.

For some years now, Maritza decided to continue doing embroidery and sewing in the style of the Arpilleras, but with a renewed vision. The original Arpilleras, born in times of repression and violence, were a heartbreaking testimony of suffering, pain, and even blood. They represented the anguish of families searching for their disappearing loved ones, the injustice of poverty, and the brutality in the time of Augusto Pinochet. Maritza, moved by these stories, but determined to sow hope, began to change the details and create Arpilleras that celebrate the beauty of her beloved Peru.

Her works are now a song to life, where vibrant colored flowers bloom, majestic trees represent life and rebirth, and landscapes that evoke peace and serenity. In her Arpilleras, a white bird perches on a radiant blue sky, the sea shines with intensity and the exuberant vegetation promises a better future.

For Maritza, embroidery is much more than a hobby, it is a therapy that allows her to transcend her illness, ALS, and connect with joy and creativity. When she talks about her art, her voice lights up and she forgets for a moment the pain of the fall she had a few days ago. Her legs no longer work as before, but her hands move with grace and precision as they give life to her creations.

Maritza not only creates beauty, but she also shares her art with others. Her Arpilleras are a gift for the soul, a reminder that hope can always flourish, even in the most difficult times.