HÆIR
LOOM
WELCOME TO HÆIRLOOM
Her / Hair / Heir / Heirloom
The images captured through Leslie Osterling’s lens and her solo show HÆIRLOOM: OLLANTAYTAMBO'S (POST) MODERN WEAVERS became the inspiration for the collaborative project recently exhibited at the London Design Biennale. Seeking to highlight the innovation and transformation taking place across multiple communities through Kiara Kulisic’s startup, CHIQA, Leslie has undertaken a photographic study of this remarkable team of women, the hair they weave, and the ways in which a society can be transformed.
HÆIRLOOM was showcased at Somerset House in London in June, 2025 and was the recipient of
the People's Choice Award.
HOW IT BEGAN
HÆIRLOOM: OLLANTAYTAMBO’S POST-MODERN WEAVERS began in 2023 as a photographic project by Leslie Osterling, originally curated by Gustavo Buntinx, showcasing the wig-making enterprise of a group of Andean women in the Sacred Valley of Cusco. Their awareness of the potential to help others experiencing hair loss—using their own hair—became a source of empowerment.
Combining ancestral weaving knowledge with training from CHIQA, a social enterprise created to support women facing significant challenges, these weavers have since become skilled producers of world-class hairpieces.
LONDON DESIGN BIENNALE
Showcased at the London Design Biennale 2025:
The photographs by Leslie Osterling that started it all
Documentary short videos by Arin Pereira
A specially commissioned art piece using hair as a thread for textiles by Carolina Estrada
The screening of "Some Hairs Never Fall" a documentary by Romina Osterling
A conversation with Zsofia Kollar, founder of Human Material Loop.
CHIQA HAIR
Inspired by her personal journey with alopecia and the transformative power of natural-looking wigs, CHIQA was founded by Kiara Kulisic in Ollantaytambo, Peru.
After discovering the exceptional quality of Peruvian hair and the rich weaving traditions of the Andes, she set out to create luxury hairpieces while empowering local women through fair, ethical employment. CHIQA not only addresses the growing global demand for wigs and extensions, but also champions sustainable sourcing and social impact—one handcrafted piece at a time.
HAIR: A VALUABLE COMMODITY
Human hair is a precious commodity—a remarkably versatile, renewable, and sustainable natural resource. With proper regulation and ethical marketability, it has the potential to generate profound social and economic benefits, both individually and collectively. These benefits are further amplified by the added value of skilled design and craftsmanship.
This narrative framework promotes the value of Peruvian hair in particular, and encourages a broader understanding of hair as a natural resource—akin to any other fibre.
Together, the team led by Leslie Osterling and Carlos Caamaño, hope to showcase the transformative power of a redefined millenary art, now transforming lives, a community, its economy, and the future of many.
