CHIQA
CHIQA was founded three years ago in Ollantaytambo, Cusco, by Kiara Kulisic, inspired by her personal journey with alopecia. After experiencing the healing power of natural-looking wigs made from real hair, she set out to master the craft and create luxury wigs. Looking to provide traceability, and honouring the ancient weaving traditions of the Andes, she established her busines in a small village in Peru's Sacred Valley outside of Cusco.CHIQA's mission is to support those facing hair loss while empowering local women artisans to build brighter futures for themselves, their families and their communities.
The story of CHIQA is where HÆIRLOOM begins.
The idea behind CHIQA is to help those struggling with conditions yielding to unwanted baldness; to produce quality products; and to do so in a way that the women weaving these stunning pieces, could create a better future for themselves, their children, and their communities.
Learn more of its story, through this wonderful short, shot by Arin Pereira, during her recent visit with Kiara and the weavers of Ollantaytambo.
Video by Arin Pereira
Video by Arin Pereira
In 2021, the global demand for human hair wigs and extensions was valued at GBP 4.7 billion and set to more than double to GBP 9.3 billion by 2030. Sadly, due to a lack of regulation, many companies producing wigs, toppers, and hair extensions are unethical in their sourcing and compensation of their weavers.
Aiming to disrupt the market, CHIQA is set in a rural Andean community Peru, where the tradition of luxurious weaving is several thousand years old. In this short, Claudia, one of the weavers of Ollantaytambo, narrates her experience and tells us a bit more about what being a part of this social enterprise means to her.
If you would like to purchase a topper, wig or hair extension:
CHIQA remains a grassroots start-up profoundly involved in the enrichment of people’s lives and human capital; through HÆIRLOOM we hope to share more of the lives being changed, one hair at a time.
If you would like to directly support CHIQA please get in touch.