Annaiss Yucra Mancilla

‘Expressing the identity of my country through my garments’, this is how Annaiss Yucra Mancilla,  a Lima based emerging designer, describes her design vision. Dedicated to transmit a colorful conversation through fashion, she aims to bring her Peruvian heritage to confront social barriers through her garments. This theme is highly visible in her new collection, 'WILLKAS', inspired by Peruvian mythology, and the story of the twins Willkas, a boy and a girl, who have to go through the human world and conquer the adversities that come with it. Emerging victorious, they are rewarded by the Gods and transformed into the sun and the moon to bring balance back to earth. Her collection draws a parallel between this myth and modern Peru, seeing the children from low resources as the Willkas who have to go through the adversities of everyday life.

Her collection will be presented at the Show Programme at the SAM-Decorfabriek on Saturday the 16th of June. You can get your tickets to the show here.


What made you realize that you wanted to work in (fashion) design? 

Since I can remember the sound of the sewing machines are part of myself. My family owns a small textile factory in Lima, and the fabrics and trims have been part of my childhood. When I was a kid I used to give them my doodles of “new designs” so they could make them. I think that summarize my choice: its my heritage and legacy.

Why did you choose fashion?

I wanted to have a way to speak through all my thoughts and concerns and views about life and my country. I found the balance when I started designing. I found a way to communicate through fashion.

What would you say are your main achievements in your career? 

I had the incredible luck and opportunity to be able to be part of wonderful platforms in London (graduate fashion week 24th anniversary), Lima (Lima Fashion week)and soon New Zealand( iD Emerging designer awards 2018). But my main achievement in my career are the projects in which I have been collaborating, such as working with male inmates in San Juan de lurigancho jail, or with the indigenous Shipibo ladies in the Jungle of Peru and the Andean community of San Pedro de Cajas and their artisans. It has really made me realize I can change and improve lives, by creating and helping these people develop new incomes for a better life.

What are your sources of inspiration?

My biggest muse is my country. I found so many sorts of inspiration. I have indigenous heritage, so my background was also a big part of how I define myself and my garments. As a third generation of Peruvian immigrant to the capital, I always lived with this huge problem in Peru about racism against their own for their skin or heritage, so growing up I had to deal with this problems and I had to go through a shame of myself and lack of identity, to embracing it and really capturing this beautiful part of myself in my pieces.

Why did you decide to participate in FASHIONCLASH 2018? What are your expectations?

FASHIONCLASH is an upcoming contemporary platform, that embraces emerging designers and gives them the opportunity to share their work with the world. I feel very lucky and grateful to be part of this year's selection. I really want to land to an Asian platform and I believe this event will really help me to grow as a designer and help me achieve my dream.