SCARPA and GORE-TEX support the Cholitas Escaladoras
SCARPA, a leading Italian company in the production of outdoor footwear for mountaineering, climbing, hiking, trail running, and ski mountaineering, and the GORE-TEX brand are joining forces to support the Cholitas Escaladoras, the group of Bolivian Aymara mountaineers who have become famous for conquering some of the highest peaks in Latin America. Through their example, these women have challenged gender stereotypes and social barriers, transforming the mountains into a powerful symbol of emancipation, cultural pride, and freedom.
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A partnership based on shared values
The collaboration between SCARPA and GORE-TEX was born with the aim of supporting and amplifying the message of the Cholitas Escaladoras through a long-term project.
The Cholitas as ambassadors
During the partnership, the Bolivian mountaineers will become ambassadors for the two brands, participating in initiatives and activities related to the outdoor world and the promotion of fundamental values such as:
- inclusion
- sustainability
- respect for nature
- community strength
The project represents the meeting of different realities united by the same vision: love for the mountains, the centrality of human relationships, and environmental protection.
A documentary to tell their story
The first initiative born from this collaboration is the creation of a documentary produced by SCARPA and GORE-TEX and filmed in Bolivia in February.
The film portrays the Cholitas Escaladoras in their natural environment, between daily life on the Andean plateau and the challenging mountain climbs that are part of their identity. The documentary thus offers an authentic glimpse into their human and mountaineering experience.
A STORY OF WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
“We wanted to support the Cholitas because theirs is a story of redemption, an important step in women’s empowerment in those parts of the world where, often, our gaze is absent or distracted. The Cholitas Escaladores project is unique and could become a model for other women in those countries where mountaineering is still seen as an activity reserved for men. For the Cholitas, climbing is a magical ritual, a prayer to Mother Earth, because every peak is a deity to be honored. And when they reach it, they transcend all fear. A unique female challenge, a love for the mountains, a hymn to life, to all existences, a redemption of Andean women.”
Cristina Parisotto, member of Scarpa’s board of directors.
The mountain as a rite and identity
For the Cholitas, climbing isn’t just a sport: it’s also a spiritual act. Each peak represents a deity to be honored, and the climb becomes a kind of prayer to Mother Earth.
A deep connection with the mountains translates into a unique challenge, capable of expressing the strength of Andean women and their desire for freedom.
Who are the Cholitas Escaladoras?
The Cholitas Escaladoras group was founded in 2015 and has now become an international symbol of female empowerment and cultural pride.
Initially employed as cooks and assistants on mountaineering expeditions, these women decided to get involved firsthand, starting to climb the Andes mountains.
Their main achievements
Over the years they have reached some of the continent’s most important peaks:
- Huayna Potosí (6.088 m)
- Illimani (6.438 m)
- Aconcagua (6.961 m)
In 2019 they conquered the summit of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in South America, becoming the first Aymara women to reach it.
An achievement that transformed the once derogatory term “cholita” into a symbol of pride and cultural identity.
