One of the more interesting ways to spend a Saturday in Cuenca, Ecuador doesn't involve a tour bus. It involves a needle and thread. Carmen Cuji, founder of the Cholas clothing brand, runs weekend embroidery workshops aimed at keeping the traditional Chola Cuencana style alive — and visitors and locals of any age can join in.
Cuji started her brand in 2012 and built a recognisable identity around embroidered clothing and accessories, working with a network of craftswomen, many of them older artisans. When the pandemic pushed many of them out of work, she pivoted to teaching, launching classes aimed at passing the skill to a younger generation. Sessions are held on Saturdays at the Casa de la Cultura through the Cooperativa de Producción Artesanal Ayni, and participants learn the basics and are encouraged to add their own flair to their clothing. Interested travellers can sign up by phone (098 150 6929 in Ecuador).
Why does a craft class make the news alongside energy policy? Because it says something about the city itself. Cuenca, in the southern Andean province of Azuay, is a UNESCO-listed colonial centre where traditional dress — including the embroidered skirts and blouses of the chola cuencana — is still part of everyday life, not just a museum exhibit. A three-hour workshop gives you a hands-on connection to that culture and a skill to take home, plus a chance to meet local artisans.
The same news roundup hints at practical realities for anyone travelling in Ecuador right now. The country is wrestling with a serious electricity shortfall — an estimated deficit of up to 1,300 megawatts, blamed partly on drought conditions tied to El Niño and on years of stalled infrastructure projects. Planned maintenance has meant scheduled blackouts, sometimes in the early morning hours across 15 provinces including Azuay. Travellers should expect occasional cuts, carry a power bank, and check hotel generator arrangements when booking. Keep plans flexible around scheduled maintenance windows, which utilities usually publish in advance.
For anyone heading to Cuenca, the embroidery workshops are an easy, affordable add-on to the city's usual draws: the blue-domed new cathedral, the hat museums (this is Panama hat country, despite the name), and the flower and craft markets. Pair a morning class with lunch near the centre and you have a genuinely local day out — one that supports artisans rather than a souvenir factory.
