Job Title: Farmer-to-Farmer Textile Design and Innovation Specialist

Description:

The Cooperativa De Producción Artesanal Tejemujeres, a cooperative in Ecuador that specializes in wool and alpaca clothing, seeks a specialist to support their innovation efforts. The goal of this assignment is to enhance the creation of innovative textile patterns and designs.

• Train participants in the use of design software and digital tools for creating unique patterns tailored for artisanal production of sheep and alpaca wool clothing.
• Provide techniques and tools that enable weavers to express their cultural identity and creativity through new patterns in sheep and alpaca wool textiles.
• Promote innovation in patterns by combining traditional techniques with modern design trends, ensuring the preservation of cultural heritage.
• Develop high-quality, unique textile products that differentiate the cooperative in local and international markets, increasing their added value.
• Increase knowledge in designing criteria, fashion, patterns, and color palettes to standardize creations.

Deliverables:

• A document compiling techniques, principles, and design examples integrating traditional elements with innovative approaches, accessible to all skill levels.
• A set of digital patterns created during training sessions, available in formats suitable for design software or printed for manual production.
• Physical or digital samples of textiles created using new patterns, demonstrating practical application of what was learned in training.
• A collection of educational resources, such as video tutorials, presentations, or reference materials, that weavers can access to continue learning and experimenting after training.
• Trip Report with SMART Recommendations to improve business operations.
• An outreach activity where the volunteer shares their experience with their community and networks upon return to the United States.

Salary Range: $60,000 - $80,000 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience.