| AUTHENTIC PERUVIAN CRAFTS For the Aymara and Quechua Indians in the South American Andes, textile art has been the major creative outlet. These descendants of Incan and other Pre-Columbian weavers have concentrated in recent times on intricate warp-patterned structures, producing exquisite fabrics that were both functional and ceremonial. Beginning with traditional motifs, each weaver freely created his or her own variations. Most focused their creative energies on warp-patterned mantles, ponchos, overskirts, belts and bags. Because designing was done with the warps, these articles are all striped. PERUVIAN ALPACA FIBER During Inca times, alpaca fiber was a status symbol and was prized as a trade item. The finer grades of alpaca were reserved for the Inca nobility. The alpaca hair is extremely fine (between 16 and 30 microns in width, length from 8 to 12 cm). The fiber is smooth, velvety and very light weight and soft. This camelid fiber is stronger and more durable than wool, yet is warmer and lighter in weight. The first clipping of the shearling is called baby alpaca and is extremely soft and featherweight and even more highly prized. This fleece dyes to fabulous colors and grows naturally in 40 shades from ivory to black, with all the greys and browns in between. These beautiful, gentle animals are sheared every other year before the beginning of the warm and rainy season. The native Andean herdsmen tend these animals high on the altiplano and yield about eight pounds of fleece per animal. Why is Alpaca fiber valuable? Alpaca fiber is classified as a rare specialty fiber. It is five times warmer than sheep wool fiber and more luxurious than cashmere. There are more than 22 natural colors of alpaca fleece. Blending these fibers can produce an infinite array of natural colors. Alpaca fiber can also be easily worked. Alpaca fiber is strong and resilient and has more thermal capacity than almost any other animal fiber. The fiber actually contains microscopic air pockets that contribute to the creation of lightweight apparel with very high insulation value. Alpaca fiber does not itch as wool often does because it does not contain lanolin and has a smooth cell structure THE CHULLO The Chullo is a winter hat worn by Peruvians to ward off those cold winter winds in the Andes. They are made of soft naturally dyed alpaca wool, and have comfortable earflaps to keep your ears toasty on those cold treks out in the elements of everyday winter life, like to feed the llamas. Not only do they keep you warm, but they look really cool too. |
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