Tan Alpaca Blend Ruana from Peru, "Cozy Holiday in Tan"

The Women's Empowerment badge is awarded to female artisans or artisan groups that are led by women.

Celinda uses traditional materials to create her contemporary clothing. Her designs are often based on Andean styles such as ponchos and ruanas, her garments are machine knit and finished by hand. From her early teens, Celinda was obsessed with textiles and began to learn tailoring, knitting, crochet, toy-making and appliqué. Many of these crafts were taught to her by her family. Today, she enjoys passing her skills on to the next generation. She encourages university students who are curious about the textile arts to visit her workshop and "practice."

Celinda has a natural entrepreneurial spirit. She attempted many things before finding her own workshop. Dedicated to preserving Peruvian textile traditions, she trains her own workers and informally teaches university students who have an open invitation to visit her workshop and learn about the textile arts. She is an asset to her community.

Celinda, her husband and her grandson are all supported through her Novica sales. These sales are steady, enabling her to pay her employees, her workshop bills and other living expenses.

Celinda hires as many university students as possible. It is her way of ensuring that someone will not have to give up their studies because they cannot afford to continue.

Celinda is proud to be able to pay for the education of one of her grandsons.

This artist supports children under the age of 18.