Práctica y transmisión del telar de cintura en Quingeo: registro desde las experiencias de los últimos tejedores

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the transformation of the backstrap loom practice in the parish of Quingeo, located in the Cuenca canton of Ecuador, based on the memories and experiences of its last remaining weavers. The main objective was to understand how these narratives reflect the technical, social, and cultural changes that this artisanal practice has undergone over time. To achieve this, a qualitative methodology with an ethnographic approach was employed, based on life histories of the weavers, semi-structured interviews, direct observation, and photographic documentation, primarily carried out in the community of Jabaspamba, where some textile knowledge still persists. Throughout the study, the elements that make up the backstrap loom technique were identified, along with the processes associated with spinning, the use of domestic space, the gender-based division of labor, and the factors that have contributed to its gradual disappearance. The findings reveal a gradual transformation in materials, tools, and commercial dynamics, influenced by factors such as migration, the schooling of weavers’ children, the disinterest of younger generations, and changes in consumption patterns. The study concludes that although the backstrap loom faces a serious threat of disappearance, it endures as a symbol of cultural memory and local identity. It also acknowledges the need to document this knowledge before its definitive loss and proposes, as a possible future line of research, the inclusion of the voices of those who abandoned the craft in order to gain a deeper understanding of the factors behind this rupture.