Elisa Mondaca, Argentine Weaver, Wins National Award at Expo Rural Palermo

Elisa Mondaca, a 50‑year‑old artisan from the San Juan department of Argentina, is one of the few remaining weavers keeping the traditional loom technique alive. This year she earned a second‑place mention at the 54th Exposición y Feria de Artesanías Tradicionales Argentinas, held within the Expo Rural de Palermo. Her award‑winning piece was a hand‑made jergón, a woolen garment similar to a poncho, which required about two months of work: a month to spin the wool, followed by natural dyeing and a further month of intricate weaving using a special "espasragón" stitch.

Mondaca learned the craft as a teenager at the Escuela de Capacitación Laboral de Iglesia under master Hermela Balmaceda. She continues to train at Balmaceda’s home loom, noting that younger people are increasingly reluctant to take up the tradition. The jergón was selected by a specialized jury for its high quality of yarn, finishing, and technique, and will be displayed at the traditional exhibition in Palermo, highlighting San Juan’s cultural identity.