NOVICA Artisan Laura Anaya
Laura Anaya
In my collections, I look for more than just a piece of clothing. I use Peruvian knitting and weaving techniques, along with the incomparable quality of alpaca wool, to design modern classics. My goal is to create apparel that you can use all your life.
I was born in Germany in 1987 to a Germany father and Peruvian mother. Mother's sister, Patricia Anaya, is also a Novica featured artisan. In the 1970s, our family began to design and create apparel in alpaca wool. I'm the third generation to continue this family tradition.
"I began my studies in Germany, then moved to Barcelona where I studied fashion design in the Universidad IED.
"All my life, I've been in contact with alpaca wool. I spent school vacations with my family in Peru, where each year I learned more about the different weaving and knitting techniques. I remember how Margarita and Santiago, who worked with us from the very beginning, taught me to use the knitting machines while I taught them German.
"Because I lived in Germany, I helped my mom promote our designs there from the time I was a girl. With time, I became fascinated by fashion trends and discovered a talent for designing. So I chose fashion design as a college major in order to create my own collections, a fusion of Peruvian tradition with European styling.
"This is why I came back to live in Peru, to select the wool myself and work directly with it. I want to give shoppers quality apparel that is as fashionable at the end of the season as it is at the beginning."