FOSTERING HERITAGE CRAFT
“Buscando a Wiracocha” by @Pachatopias
We are a consultancy studio devoted to supporting intangible cultural heritage through design.
We connect artisan communities in rural areas with the growing demand for authentic, high-quality and sustainable products in urban cities across the world.
Through close cooperation with artisans, designers and specialists, we contribute to the preservation of invaluable cultural traditions, while also spurring innovation and trade.
At TOQAPU, we develop and implement ways of empowering artisans through the preservation and dissemination of their skills, traditions and wares. We work closely with a range of stakeholders, including NGOs, cultural institutions, businesses and technology specialists.
We analyse the challenges facing artisan communities, including those posed by mass industrialisation and globalisation, and seek to develop solutions through design, research and cooperation.
Photo by Luis Miranda, Tejedoras Morrope
Our clients are constantly looking for new and sustainable ways of enhancing their collaboration with artisan communities as a means of preserving invaluable cultural traditions but also of promoting innovation and trade.
About us
I'm Isabel Apaestegui Macedo*, born and raised in Peru, who ventured to Switzerland at the age of 16 to pursue my passion for design. Now, with over twenty years of experience in visual and product design across global cities like New York, Guayaquil, and Shanghai, I blend creativity with business acumen. With a Master's degree in Trends and Identity from the Zurich University of the Arts and a certificate in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen, I've honed my skills to lead impactful projects. Since June 2023, I've been spearheading efforts to transition my original company into a non-profit organization, focusing on the preservation of indigenous textile practices, cultures, and traditions for future generations in their places of origin. Additionally, I'm committed to raising awareness of indigenous textile culture in urban spaces and cities, ensuring its appreciation and integration into contemporary settings. Through my venture, Toqapu, I'm dedicated to safeguarding these rich traditions and fostering cross-cultural understanding.
*born Isabel Huaman Diaz
Network/Friends
Conceptual Devices, A. Scarponi, PhD.
Antonio is an architect, designer and educator who moved from the industry of building and making things, to the industry that changes these industries.
Esteban Ibarra
Esteban Ibarra develops projects of visual, editorial, digital identity and other edges of graphic design. Since 2006, and focusing on the conceptual as a starting point for each project, he privileges his work for medium and small brands, as well as carrying out his own projects, such as the creative direction of “20 Songs to” [music platform].
Taisia Karpova
Taisia is a passionate fashion designer with focus in 3DFashion, 3D visualisation, CGI artist, fashion data analyse.
SciVisLab, Anncharlott Berglar, PhD.
With SciVisLab, Anncharlott aims at the visual communication of interesting scientific topics from scientists to scientists and/or to the public.
Tenun Ikat Sikka
Learned from the ancestors - woven for the future
The region of Sikka on the Indonesian island of Flores is known for its traditionally woven ikat textiles. The Sikka Weavers' Association is on trend with its culturally sustainable ikat textiles. They are part of the change in the fashion world, which is more and more moving towards sustainability and conscious consumption.
A mandate of the Swiss Institute of Intellectual Property, we consulted the case of the traditional handwoven fabrics from Sikka, Indonesia within the Swiss-international Intellectual Property Rights Project ISIP II, “Geographic Indication”.
Ni_
People weaving culture
As a clothing brand, Ni understands the ethnic artisan as a creative textile designer with his own culture and style. We are fascinated by the expression of cultural identity, its protection and re-invention as resistance to a globalized world through textiles and clothing in rural areas. Thus our focus is to create means to encourage creatives there.
CHimuk Handknitt
The new collection of knitted accessories from Chimuk Handknit.
Just like many cycles throughout history, this pandemic offers us a change in perspective and a chance to reinvent ourselves. A team of enterprising women from Peru reconnect with their essence & their environment and are inspired to create & rebuild. This collection evokes a feeling of perseverance, opportunity and rebirth, as we rise from our roots to weave our path of life.