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About this item: Inspired by ancient Inca patterns, this shoulder bag is hand crafted from 100% alpaca. The artisans of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco start from scratch to create it--raising the alpacas and llamas to obtain the fleece; shearing, dyeing and spinning the wool; and weaving the textile on a traditional waist loom. The fully-lined bag closes with a zipper and features an interior zipper pocket.Features a zipper closureHand wash onlyHand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly

About our Artist: 'Nilda Callanaupa Alvarez a weaver from Chinchero is the founder and director of the Cusco Center for Traditional Textiles. 'I was born in Chinchero, a magical district in Cusco where our textile culture keeps the ancient techniques alive. They are still used to create apparel and both utilitarian and decorative designs and the skills are handed down from generation to generation. Artisanal techniquee such as dyeing the sheep and alpaca wool with organic colors, and weaving it offer a glimpse into our ancestral culture. The story of the Cusco Center for Traditional Textiles began in 1970 with a group of women who began to get together in one another's homes to spin and weave. These Quechua weavers from the Chinchero community realized Cusco's traditional textiles had begun to disappear. The most complex patterns and techniques were in danger of extinction because the younger generations couldn't learn them from their older relatives. Worried that their sacred textile tradition was in danger of dying out forever, the weavers decided that its destiny lay in their own hands. They came together to try to...

• Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.2 x 7.87 x 1.57 inches; 0.96 ounces
• Department ‏ : ‎ Womens
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ November 4, 2022
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ NOVICA