Every thread we touch carries a story — and our new short film, Yachapa, is a celebration of that truth. This project, launching alongside Paka’s first-ever Heritage Collection, has been a labor of love from our team, and we can’t wait to share it with our community.
Shot on 16mm film, Yachapa features Nathalie Kelley and is directed by Sandra Winther. The film is a sensory journey through the Andean worldview – one where craft, land, and spirit are inseparable.
A Tribute to Quechua Heritage, Featuring Nathalie Kelley
A Return to Origin
At its heart is actress and storyteller Nathalie Kelley, whose own life bridges Peru and the world beyond. Born in Lima and raised in Australia, Nathalie grew up steeped in the food, songs, and language of her maternal grandparents — an upbringing that anchored her to the Andean way of life and its deep spiritual and cultural roots.
Her story mirrors the film’s deeper question:
Rooted in the Quechua language, the word Yachapa means “echo,” a reflection of sound from the “Apu” mountains and valleys. It’s a reminder to listen closely to the echoes of ancestry, weaving, and wisdom that still live in the highlands of Peru.
This film honors the resilience and artistry of the alpaqueros and weavers in the Andes. These communities continue to create beauty and meaning in the face of modern-day challenges.
Rooted in the Quechua language, the word Yachapa means “echo,” a reflection of sound from the “Apu” mountains and valleys. It’s a reminder to listen closely to the echoes of ancestry, weaving, and wisdom that still live in the highlands of Peru.
This film honors the resilience and artistry of the alpaqueros and weavers in the Andes. These communities continue to create beauty and meaning in the face of modern-day challenges.
Where Film Meets Fabric
Yachapa was created in tandem with our Heritage Collection, garments co-created directly with Peruvian artisans at the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco (CTTC). This limited-edition collection honors the symbols of the Inca Trilogy: the Condor (sky + wisdom), Puma (earth + protection), and Snake (underworld + renewal).
Each motif has been reimagined into modern silhouettes, forming a bridge between the ancient and the contemporary — and between the world of the weavers and the world of the wearer.
Together, the Heritage Collection and Yachapa remind us that heritage is not only history. It’s alive, breathing, and protecting the future. This project honors the people and traditions that make PAKA possible — and reminds us, and our community, that clothing can be more than just what we wear.
Click here to shop the Heritage Collection