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Threads of Peru Blog

Featuring the Peruvian Alpaca Poncho

Featuring the Peruvian Alpaca Poncho

Threads of Peru’s line of alpaca ponchos, part of our Quechua Collection are rooted in Andean culture and steeped in history. The Andean poncho is a traditional item of Andean dress that may date back to some of the earliest pre-Incan cultures. The poncho is composed of two rectangular pieces of fabric woven on the backstrap loom, each piece the width of the weaver’s body. The two pieces are subsequently sewn together, leaving an opening in the middle of the seam for the head to pass through. When worn, the poncho covers most of the upper body, protecting one from the cold, while still allowing free movement of the hands and arms.

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How We Met: Upis Weavers

In late 2012, I was on the lookout for another weaving association to add to our growing network. On a routine trip out to Ollantaytambo on public transit, I happened to notice a sign advertising an upcoming artisan fair that would be held just outside Chinchero. "Amazing!," I thought. "Perfect place to meet some new weavers."

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The Awaq Shoulder Bag: Weaving Technique that was Nearly Lost

The Awaq Shoulder Bag: Weaving Technique that was Nearly Lost

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The AWAQ shoulder bag with front pocket is a technical feat of weaving ingenuity, composed of one continuous piece of weaving! That’s right: unlike every other bag out there, that practical front pocket is NOT a separate piece sewn onto the main bag, but rather a part of the main weaving. This traditional technique was brought to the brink of extinction – almost lost altogether, a distant memory in the recesses of time – but was revived by a dedicated anthropologist in the Mapacho Valley in the 1990s.

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