Peruvian Textiles

Peruvian Textiles are very famous and rightly so. Peru is a country full of history and culture that has been inherited by many generations and of these, the tradition of weaving stands out, which chronologically has more than 4000 years of presence in history. We will show you how the Ancient Peruvian Textiles differ from the Peruvian Textiles and how they influence the daily life of many Andean peoples.

The tradition of Peruvian Textiles is mainly centered in the Andean towns where the culture and customs are kept alive and are part of the daily life of the people. In Cusco, Chinchero and the central part of Peru there is a greater production of Peruvian Textiles and its production process is the most striking for many travelers because no one would imagine that curious elements are used to provide the multiple colors. If you want to know what they are, let’s find out together.

Highlights of Peruvian Textiles.

Throughout the world, Peruvian textiles are highly valued for their historical importance, to such an extent that they are one of the fundamental elements that you can find in a museum, since throughout the history of the evolutionary process between cultures we see how they have a significant impact within their society.

In pre-Incan cultures such as Nazca, Paracas and Moche, it was evident that Ancient Peruvian Textiles were used mainly by religious and funeral officials, since mummies were found wrapped in fine Peruvian Textiles, with several layers joined together, and the delicacy of their elaboration can clearly be seen.

Over time, subsequent cultures, up to the Incas, adopted the technique of making Ancient Peruvian Textiles not only for religious use, but also for social status use. Since the garments were mainly made of alpaca, they chose to domesticate these animals to make their wool much finer and this produced better quality textiles and this was made only for royalty or for the Inca ruler exclusively.

In some ancient textiles the use of multiple colors was evident and although at first it was a challenge to find out their origin, it was concluded that for the dyeing process of Peruvian Textiles unique elements were used such as:

Cochineal: It is a parasite that we find in the prickly pear plant or Penca (thorns), its use in Ancient Peruvian Textiles resulted in a red tone, it was even used as lipstick for women.

Maras Salt: If you add Maras Salt to the red color we obtained previously, you get the orange color in Peruvian textiles.

Chincheros Flower: If we boil Chinchero flower (infusion) in a container we will obtain a yellow tone which we can use to dye a Peruvian Textile.

Quilca: It is a very strong color enhancer and has a shape similar to the coca leaf. If you boil a handful of Quilca leaves and dip some Peruvian Textiles in them, you get a green tone.

Tara Seeds: It is a medicinal plant that helps with sore throats, but in relation to Textiles it is a good dyeing element that gives the gray color.

Purple Corn: Its use goes beyond just its flavor, it is also an excellent element to dye all the Textiles you want. You just have to boil them and then immerse your Peruvian Textile to obtain a purple color.

Quinsacucho: A medicinal plant from the Andes, when combined with some Peruvian Textiles you get a clear blue color.

Origins and Evolution

Ancient textiles are undoubtedly the clearest example of the cultural expression that exists in cultures that have adapted to change over time. From ancient pre-Columbian civilizations to the present day, it is clear that each moment in time has left a permanent imprint on the art of Peruvian Textiles.

The Chavín Culture
It is considered one of the first cultures of Peru and despite its antiquity, they made use of advanced techniques such as weaving and dyeing on Peruvian textiles, their use was mainly religious and mythological in some cases.

The Paracas Culture
It stood out for being a culture that used many of its textiles for funerary purposes, this culture stood out for the sophisticated technique of embroidery where their cloaks and tunics showed geometric images and representations of daily life.

Wari Culture
This culture was the closest to the Incas in terms of time of existence. This culture stands out for its textiles in the form of tapestries with geometric details. Although they looked simple, the reality is that they were quite complex as they contained multiple layers and textures.

Nazca Culture
Known mostly for the famous Nazca lines and their impressive geoglyphs, the talent that existed in the elaboration of many types of textiles is also evident. Among the techniques used are the backstrap loom and the horizontal loom. Unlike other Peruvian textiles, this one had multiple colors representing images of deities such as mountains and the sun, everyday animals such as llamas and humans in daily activities.

The Inca Culture
It was considered the largest culture in South America, spanning multiple countries during its period of expansion. That is why its textile art expanded to corners where no one had reached before. Within this culture, their textiles represented more than just clothing; they were a symbol of social status and power over the people. They were made from alpaca and vicuña fibers with geometric patterns that were often used in ceremonies or as gifts for other leaders who wanted to be integrated into the culture.

Fibers Used in Textiles.

The origin of Peruvian textiles is based on natural fibers extracted from some Andean camelids such as the alpaca, vicuña, sheep and others. Each one contains a personal and unique characteristic that makes them unique in their species, some of these fibers are:

• Alpaca wool
• Sheep wool
• Vicuña Fiber
• Cotton

No matter where in Peru you choose to go on your next trip, we are sure you will find the right time to get a piece of Peruvian textile and feel like you are the best in the world. Cusco Journeys can make this dream come true as a personalized adventure tailored to your needs, contact us now and take the first step in this planning.

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