Threads of Peru Blog

Last week we talked about the new ponchos in our store, this week we are going to talk about something a little less traditional but equally as beautiful — bedspreads!

If you are looking for a way to bring some rustic beauty into your bedroom, these bedspreads (or cubrecamas) won’t disappoint. Made from the rich natural fibers of the Andes, they represent the vibrant weaving tradition that thrives here.

Each of the bedspreads is handcrafted and is endowed with the personal artistic touch of its weaver.  Take the bedspread pictured above. It is from the community of Chaullacocha and contains a wealth of symbols representing life there.

On this blanket alone you will find llamas, alpacas, condors, deer, sheep, and many more native animals. Many of these animals, the llamas, alpacas, and sheep especially, are an important part of everyday life in the communities. They represent food, clothing, and a source of income for many people in rural areas of Peru.  

Some of the animals have a religious significance, like the condor who rules the air (Hanaq Pacha) along with the puma and serpent who rule the earth and underworld. This blanket even has a depiction of a ship, evidence of the weavers’ evolving influences.

The connection to the storied Andean weaving tradition doesn’t stop with the designs. The dyes used to create the earthy palette come from natural sources and are infused into the fibers using traditional methods. Our bedspreads are woven together using methods practiced in the Andes for hundreds of years. The looms the women use, the tools they craft their weavings with, and the techniques they practice are all rooted in a deep history.

Adding this bedspread to your home will bring a piece of that history to you and help support the preservation of this tradition. The only problem you are going to have is deciding if you should embrace the warm blanket as a bedspread or hang it on your wall as art!

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As we get closer to restocking our store with new items fresh from the communities, we want to take some time to profile them. To start we are going to talk about the classic Andean outerwear — ponchos! (You can buy the first of our new line right now)  

The poncho has become such an object of pop-culture fascination — thanks in large part to a certain “man with no name” — that sometimes we forget that this garment traces its roots to the high mountains of the Andes.  Even though ponchos migrated north and became the favored attire of seemingly every silver-screen cattle rustler, drifter, and bandito, their origin lies with the people of South America.  

The Spanish word “poncho” likely came from the Quechua word “punchu” or similar words in other languages spoken nearby.  And while other cultures to the North may have adopted this look, a visit to hills around Cusco and the Sacred Valley makes it clear that the poncho is as native to Peru as alpacas.

Created from fine wool, ponchos are prized for their beauty; but their original use went far beyond fashion. The harsh climate of the high Andes requires year-round protection from the elements. Before the recent ingress of synthetic materials, ponchos offered the best defense against rain, cold, and wind. Their thick material kept the Andean men warm while the woman wore large shawls.

Traditionally, ponchos are decorated with intricate bands of patterns. These can include animals, people, flowers, and abstract designs (for more information on each check out the Symbols & Patterns section of our website). The majority of the ponchos coming to our store opt for a simple and elegant look, though there will be also patterned options available.

Because the poncho is made from alpaca or sheep’s wool, the entire production process could be carried out by the farmers and herders along with their families. Today, Threads of Peru maintains that traditional process. Everything from the shearing to dyeing and spinning to weaving takes place in the communities where our organization works.

Our ponchos provide the same protection against the elements as the traditional Andean poncho but are also stylish additions to any man’s or woman’s wardrobe. Perfect for a cold night out or even an adventure over the pampas. Keep your eye on the store for more information.

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Imagine you are walking through the Andean highlands and you come across a herd of wooly creatures with long necks that vaguely resemble camels. Is that a llama? No, maybe an alpaca? Which one is it? Don’t worry, in today’s blog post we are going to help you sort it out.

  First off, why should you care? The simple answer is, if you are into textiles like we are, alpacas produce wonderful fine wool, perfect for ponchos or scarves. Llamas on the other hand have coarser wool that is better suited to things like rugs or ropes. Many of the products Threads of Peru sells come from alpacas; none come from llamas. 

Sorry llamas, this goof-ball has got you beat.

This fine-versus-rugged distinction is a good way to remember who is who. Llamas are larger and their sturdy frames made them the Andean people’s go-to method of cargo transportation until they were replaced first by mules and then by trucks. Even though the llama no longer carries the majority of Peru’s goods, it is still an important pack animal in the highlands.

Alpacas are smaller and don’t have the strength of their larger cousins but they serve an important role as a source of wool and occasionally meat. The wool from Alpacas is noted for its soft texture and the Suri breed has one of the finest fibers of any mammal. 

The Alpaca: king of Peruvian fashion.

So, how do you tell them apart? The first give away is the size. Alpacas are slightly smaller than llamas. They also have thicker wool that makes them appear more stocky. If it is short and stocky it is probably an alpaca. If it is tall and lanky, odds are it is a llama. However, when the alpaca loses all its wool to the shearer, the distinction is less clear.

When both animals have their coats, the alpacas dense wool gives it a “puffy” appearance — think cotton balls. The llamas coat is more sparse and looks more like a shaggy dog than a sheep. The wool on the alpaca tends to grow thick even on their faces where sometimes it covers their eyes. This gives their heads a shorter, rounder look than the llama which tends to have a more lengthy snout. 

Don't worry llamas, you're still pretty majestic.

Some people say you can tell the animals apart by looking at their ears. They say the llama has longer crescent shaped ears while the alpacas are short and pointed. In practice though, it is a subtle difference and one that can be hard to spot.

Now you know what to look for and the next time you see a wooly creature with a long neck in the Andes, you will know what it is — or you will know what it is unless it is a wild guanaco or vicuña, but that is a story for a different time.

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