travel poncho

Decorated with checked patterns of taupe, saffron, maroon, and indigo, this poncho from Peru is woven from a sumptuously soft alpaca blend. Nestor Yana creates this bright cape, which features a shawl collar with a zip-up front.

Shades of turquoise and royal blue combine in a gorgeous poncho that is sure to brighten up any winter day. Raquel and Gregor hand-weave a striped pattern with a cozy texture using a soft baby alpaca blend. Baby alpaca is the fine fleece from the season's first shearing.

Raquel and Gregor label all their designs with the name Sillpa, which is the Aymara word for describing comfort, softness, and pleasure. The couple aims to preserve their homeland's rich weaving and textile tradition through their work.

Designer Luisa Villavicencio and her family maintain the last remaining cotton farm in Guatemala, where they produce the materials used in their natural fashions. This laid-back poncho is created using undyed cotton and reclaimed denim fibers in a striking asymmetrical design with fringe details.
Luisa's family cultivates cotton in several natural colors, and the family is involved in the entire process, from growing the cotton to transforming it into apparel. Says Luisa, "There are 80 artisans working with us. Some are civil war widows. Others always felt that they couldn't do anything, and we've been able to change that negative self image... A lot of families depend on us. I feel I have a great duty to them, to my parents and to my country, whose textile tradition should not be lost."

You'll be the hit of the party in this knit poncho by Peruvian artisan Alfredo Falcon. The artisan uses a touch of famously soft baby alpaca for this design. The poncho features a V-neck and a unique semi sheer diamond motif. The poncho's angled cut makes for a flattering silhouette. Baby alpaca refers to the fine fleece from the season's first shearing.