An Ancient Tradition Survives
When you trek with Apus Peru, $15 of your trek price is contributed to Threads of Peru.
Threads of Peru is a non-profit organisation that connects the world to the woven work of Quechua women; helping to preserve their ancient craft and provide them with economic opportunity.
Threads of Peru (TOP) is currently operating projects in high Andean communities, located above Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. We work with women who are part of their village weaving associations, where we fund and conduct workshops that include training on various aspects of how to traditionally weave products for an international market. Workshops are delivered by local Quechua speaking professionals and experts. Our projects operate in the Lares region, which you can visit via one of Apus Peru’s treks.
Threads of Peru fairly trades timeless & one of a kind Andean fashion accessories & decor. Our products are made by Quechua women, using natural dyes and organic fee-range wool and alpaca, which is spun into thread and intricately woven by hand. By combining traditional craft production with contemporary design, we empower indigenous women artisans and offer the world extraordinary products that are made to last.
Featured Textile: The Wedding Table Runner
The Story
Andean textiles play an important part of the traditional wedding rituals and ceremonies. It´s not just that the textiles adorn the bridal party, but they come to the union as a form of dowry, or a test of the young woman’s weaving ability. Weaving is art, and its meaning is in the eye of the beholder. The traditional meanings of different pallay (the Quechua word for the design found on a weaving) vary from community to community. In the community of Karhui (to the south of Cusco) the Q’intikuna Churunakuy (Hummingbirds with beaks joined) symbol in the traditional weavings means that the creator of this weaving keeps feelings of affection and love towards the recipient of the weaving. The Churunakun Chiwchikuna (frontally opposed birds) symbolizes affection. In the village of Huilloq the pallay Uminakuj Espiritucha shows birds sharing food, symbolizing the way a couple will share food and resources now they are joined as one. There is also a balance in this weaving, like the traditional Chinese “ying and yang” between male and female, or light and dark. An excerpt from Andrea Heckman’s illuminating book, Woven Stories states that:
“Weddings symbolically bring together an asymmetrical but balanced union of male and female duality. This union, called yanatin in Quechua symbolically joins the ayllus of the male and the female in reciprocal commitments formed by the joining of man and woman.” Threads of Peru ‘s stunning wedding table runners are sure to grace any new home with love and commitment.
The Traditional Weaving Process Threads of Peru products are organic and handwoven by Quechua women in the high Andes, near Cusco Peru. Their ancient weaving techniques date back thousands of years. The steps involved in making these items are as follows:
1. Raising The Animals
2. Shearing
The weaving process actually begins in the raising of freerange sheep, llamas and alpacas. The whole family is involved in tending to the family`s herd in the high mountains. Far from modern life, the raising of these animals is completely organic… free from pesticides and other contaminants.
Fibre is shorn from free-range alpaca and sheep on annual shearing events held between the months of December and February. The first shearing of a young alpaca is a serious event, and offerings are made to the mountain gods before doing so.
3. Washing
4. First Spin
Wool is washed with plant detergents in high mountain streams, to rid it of any dirt, sticks, leaves, or grass.
Then starts the labour intensive spinning… any man, woman or child in the Andes is rarely seen without a drop spindle – as they tend the sheep they also spin wool. Prior to dying, the wool is spun into a broader single ply and made into a skein.
5. Natural Dying The skeins are coloured, using plant, insect and mineral dyes. The dying processes are time-consuming events. Red is the prevalent color in many Andean weavings, coming from a small parasite called Cochineal – the red gold of the Andes, which remains a valuable commodity in many parts of the world. The weavings are washed again during the dying process. Some wool is not dyed, especially alpaca fleece as it comes naturally in over 20 shades!
Cochineal
6. Second Spin After the wool is dyed, it is spun again. For a fine weaving, its spun finely, or if it’s a more heavy duty item (like a blanket) they spin the wool twice or more to make a two or multiple ply.
7. Design This part of the weaving involves two or more women setting up the WARP of the weaving – and ensuring that it meets strict specifications so it`s balanced and appealing.
8. Weaving Women in the Andes generally use a back-strap loom, which is portable and can be carried around and set up as they tend their flocks. During the weaving process, the women include a range of different icons that make up the designs. Weaving is very time consuming – a scarf can take a month of weaving if the woman weaves in her spare time (i.e. while tending the flock, after she has done her chores, or while she is caring for children).
9. Finish A final wash helps to make a fine, flat finish as the weaving is stretched out between four pegs. Once the weaving is done, the ends need to be tied and the weaving trimmed. Pieces are often sewn to create products such as, handbags, ponchos, cushion covers, and more.
Each item represents at least a hundred or more hours!
Value Adding To make products for an international market, the women have begun to use other items such as a treadle sewing machine, and a button hole maker for belts.