The Abracemos lo Nuestro project
documents, explores, and encourages
traditional artisan textile production in Paraguay.

Background | Research Questions | Project Outline | Honors & Awards | Publications

Overview 

The goals of RIT Soft Studio’s Abracemos lo Nuestro Project are to document, explore, and encourage traditional textile production in Paraguay in partnership with the Instituto Paraguayo de la Artesanía (IPA). Traditional artisan work is deeply rooted in Paraguayan cultural identity, and handicrafts play an important role historically in the communication of cultural values and iconic objects. Specifically, the traditional hand-made textiles ñandutí, a’ó po’í, encaje jú, and po’yví promote a significant sense of pride and self in the Paraguayan people. However, in recent years traditional artisans have not exhibited much newness nor innovation in their design ideation, resulting in a flood of analogous products in the marketplace and diminishing public appreciation for conventional Paraguayan handicrafts.

RIT Soft Studio’s Abracemos lo Nuestro looks to provide artisans with new tools, resources, and cross-collaboration opportunities to Paraguayan artisans, empowering the production of more empathetic, creative, and innovative products in their market offerings. Using traditional textiles in new ways will preserve important cultural traditions, heritage, and sensibilities while improving and empowering the artisan way of life and their recognition within society.

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Background 

Fulbright alumnus Andrea Gonzalez Esteche received her MFA in Industrial Design at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, USA, in May 2019. Her thesis, the origin of this research, focused on integrating Industrial Designers and Industrial Design Strategies into the traditional artisan ideation and production process of Paraguayan textiles to encourage new ideas, innovations, and artisan advancement. Her thesis case study resulted in a dinnerware collection designed to serve Paraguayan snacks, such as chipitas, made from ñandutí, wood, ceramics, and glass. The traditional Paraguayan textiles and motifs combine in new, innovative ways to enhance the dining atmosphere and more closely tie the experience to Paraguayan culture. A traditional Paraguayan restaurant in Asunción has already expressed interest in the Pyaha collection, and discussions are underway to begin preparing the designs for production. This preliminary research makes it possible to visualize the opportunities to explore and apply more versatile applications of artisan handicrafts to future research and product development.

The RIT Soft Studio’s Abracemos lo Nuestro Project continues and expands the original thesis research. It provides new tools and resources to Paraguayan artisans, empowering the production of more empathetic, creative, and innovative products in their market offerings. Using traditional textiles in new ways preserves critical cultural traditions, heritage, and sensibilities while improving the artisan way of life and societal recognition.  Back to top

Problem Statement & Research Questions 

Traditional Paraguayan textiles are an integral piece to cultural heritage, yet they are considered irrelevant in today’s society due to lack of newness and current applications. Questions this research intends to explore:

• How can we increase the demand/applicability for artisan textiles?

• How can we integrate industrial designers into the IPA to work with artisans to encourage newness & innovation? 

• How can newness/innovation be introduced to traditional Paraguayan textile production while ensuring preservation of traditional techniques and knowledge? 

• How is cross-collaboration best encouraged between various artisans?

• Are artisans satisfied/helped by the implementation of new design & marketing strategies?

• Is the IPA satisfied/helped by the implementation of new design & marketing strategies?

• Are cross-collaborative product offerings more or less successful in the marketplace? What difference is seen with increased/differentiation in marketing strategies? 

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FULBRIGHT SPECIALIST PROGRAM

In 2020, when travel was indefinitely on hold for the foreseeable future, I knew I needed to somehow to keep my momentum moving forward. I shifted my focus onto securing funding for an additional trip to Paraguay once travel restrictions lifted. Being a Fulbright alumnus herself, Andrea suggested I apply to the Fulbright Specialist program, which pairs highly qualified U.S. academics and professionals with host institutions abroad to share their expertise, strengthen institutional linkages, hone their skills, gain international experience, and learn about other cultures while building capacity at their overseas host institutions. I focused the extensive application requirements on the unique combination of my textile & soft product design expertise, industry & academic experiences, and RIT Soft Studio’s Abracemos lo Nuestro.

I received my acceptance into the program in June 2020; however, at that time the program was indefinitely on hold by the US Department of State. The program resumed in January 2021. Due to the shifted focus of many host universities towards COVID-19 related concerns, Fulbright has extended the duration of each current Specialist’s participation from three to four years. My participation runs 2021-2025.

Through a partnership with a PY host university in the Fulbright Specialist Program, I hope to expand Soft Studio curricula, with a focus on facilitating a project partnership between the textile artisans and design students at both institutions. Starting with faculty & student workshops, textile & soft product design lectures, and hands-on activities and design blitzes, I would help lay the foundation for soft product design courses to be developed and taught in country. Lectures will include Introduction to Fibers & Fabrics, Introduction to Textile Design and Soft Product Design & Development, and Soft Product Design Manufacturing. Faculty-specific workshops will include course and curriculum development assistance. Sharing my research and documentation on the creation and development of RIT’s Soft Studio courses will help set up and structure the university’s course offerings for success. Groundwork will also be laid for mutually-beneficial student-artisan collaborations. Through partnership with the IPA and the host institution I hope to establish community relations with local artisan groups to promote understanding of local textile traditions and partnerships for student-artisan collaborative projects.

Additionally, I intend to develop complementary course offerings at RIT and in PY. Facilitating a joint project between both university’s students focused on new uses for traditional textiles will not only encourage the continued production of traditional textiles, but expose new generations to their value and importance. By fostering collaborations between artisans and students, traditional knowledge is shared, valued, preserved. Through a joint project with the artisans, students can learn firsthand the historical and cultural significance of traditional textiles, and help innovate and encourage new uses for traditional techniques. In turn, artisans can gain inspiration and ideas for product innovation through student interaction. PY students can travel to work directly with the artisans and help facilitate virtual, online meetings with RIT students. My ultimate goal is to establish a RIT Graduate Research Experience in Paraguay to allow me to bring my RIT Industrial Design MFA students to study and work with PY students and Paraguayan artisans directly.

Honors & Awards

Fulbright Specialist Program

Status: Accepted
Roster tenure: 2021-2025. Verbal agreement received from UNA to act as Host Institution.

$3300

Rochester Institute of Technology
RIT Global Faculty Grant (period: 2020-2021, delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic)
Title of Proposal: RIT Soft Studio’s Abracemos lo Nuestro Project
Role: PI

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Publications & Dissemination

Peer Reviewed Working Papers

1. Gonzalez Esteche, A. & Dawson, M. (2019). Abracemos lo Nuestro: Encouraging new ideation with traditional Paraguayan textiles. Proceedings of Cumulusbogotá 2019 (Bogotá, Colombia, Oct 30-Nov 1, 2019). Cumulusbogotá 2019: The Day After Design. Cumulus, Bogotá, Colombia, 760-770. (Acceptance rate: 30%) http://cumulusbogota2019.org/cumulus-conference-proceedings-bogota-2019.pdf

Peer Reviewed Presentations (Presenter in bold)

1. Gonzalez Esteche, A. & Dawson, M. (2019). Abracemos lo Nuestro: Encouraging new ideation with traditional Paraguayan textiles. Oral presentation at Cumulusbogotá 2019: The Day After Design conference, Bogotá, Colombia. https://cumulusbogota2019.org/cumulus-programme-book.pdf

Submissions Under Review

1. Gonzalez Esteche, A. & Dawson, M. (Submitted February 2020 – conference postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic). Abracemos lo Nuestro: Encouraging new ideation with traditional Paraguayan textiles. Oral presentation at Paraguay Conference 2020: Visions of the Future, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts USA.

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