wool art

Woven by hand on a traditional loom, this shawl is a masterpiece of Zapotec textile art. Delfina Ruiz transforms ivory cotton into a beautiful wrap. Intricate star motifs in cyan enhance its beauty, and the rebozo shawl is finished with macramé fringe.

Crafted by hand, this delightful morral combines rich textures with red, white and rich earthen browns. Artisan members of Peru's Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco first knot the yarn before it is woven on a backstrap loom. The motifs derive from Inca art in an effort to keep the traditional patterns and techniques alive as well as their Andean identity. This texture is known as urpi, which means "dove" in the Quechua language.

The community raises and cares for its own alpacas. The fleece is washed, carded and spun by hand using a pushka, or drop spindle. The dyes come from plants, nuts and tree bark. The next step is one of the most important, as the artisan prepares the warp, or vertical threads for the backstrap loom. This determines the size of the textile, the color combinations, and the patterns that will be woven.

The intensity of color can vary depending on the hardness of the water, the altitude and the local dye sources, making each textile a unique piece of handcrafted art

Crimson is combined with various other colors in this hat from Peru. Knit from 100% alpaca wool, the hat features crimson, pumpkin, cerulean, and purple stripes with zigzag, cross, and block patterns. Peruvian artisan Fernando Cano creates this warm accessory.

Embroidered by hand, hill tribe motifs tell of the Akha people's rich textile traditions. The patterns cover a generous front pocket on a cotton sling tote. By Jiap Rojjana, the bag is fully lined and an inner pocket with zipper keeps small items handy. Yellow cords and rain tree wood beads adorn the strap, and both the outer pocket and the purse close with coconut shell buttons.

Because each is an individual work of embroidery art, colors and motifs may vary slightly according to the artisan's inspiration.

Women of the Guatemalan textile arts cooperativeK’amolon K’i K’ojonel (meaning “let’s get together”)collaborate on this elegant shawl. From the women whodye the bamboo rayon fibers, to those who spin theminto silky threads, to those who weave it on a backstrap loom, each step is done by hand at home. 100% rayon from bamboo.

Desak Nyoman Parwati conjures sweet nuances of color in an original batik with contemporary flair. Crafting an extraordinary robe from the hand-dyed textile, she selects a classic design. Its front-wrap style, wide sleeves and matching belt mean leisure time beauty. Shades of pale yellow, olive, gray and brown are painted by hand.

This handpainted batik robe is a truly original work of art. Sunlight, water, dye and temperature all factor into the look of the finished robe. This should be considered a unique design made especially for you. Colors and pattern placement will vary.