alpaca blue

Colorful flowers embellish an accessory handloomed by artisans of Ayacucho, a traditional Andean city known for its stunning textiles. Following Milagros Campos's design, the artisans craft the iris sling from alpaca, adding an adjustable strap, a zipper closure, a polyester lining, an interior pocket and sweet tassels for a unique look that will captivate anyone.

Discover the captivating natural wonders of the Andes with a majestic handwoven and embroidered design from the Ulloa Family in Peru. This alpaca blend sling bag boasts intricate floral and leaf accents embroidered by hand in a palette of enchanting teal, vibrant cyan and exquisite olive hues. The charming accessory features an adjustable strap, a zippered closure and an interior zippered pocket for all your essentials.

The cool blues of this beautiful 100% alpaca shoulder bag evoke the Andean skies. The bag is crafted entirely by hand by the artisans of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco. They raise the alpacas and llamas to obtain the fleece; shear, dye and spin the wool; and weave the textile on a traditional waist loom. The unlined bag closes with a zipper and features an interior zipper pocket and jaunty tassels on the bottom.

Patiently handwoven on the backstrap loom, ancient motifs recall the splendor of the Inca empire, when such textiles were more highly prized than gold. Artisans of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco craft a handbag of timeless beauty, combining blue and with two shades of red on a dark blue background. They name their design for Chinchero, where time seems to have stood still for centuries and the Quechua language is spoken and seek to keep the old textile traditions alive.

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. The bag is fully lined and opens to reveal a convenient zipper pocket.