handcrafted

Cool turquoise contrasts beautifully with black on this stunning table runner from Peruvian artisan Edwin Choquecahua. The alpaca-blend runner is woven on a traditional pedal loom and then embroidered by hand with floral motifs.

Alfredo Falcon blends cotton and alpaca wool for a sweater that is soft, warm and perfect for those cold wintry days. Knit in turquoise blue, the pullover sweater features a cowl neck, flirty holes that adorn the shoulders, and long sleeves with cuffs and hemline that curl up slightly.

By Fernando Cano, this radiant sweater in shades of blue evokes stylized poinsettia flowers. He works in luxurious alpaca wool, long prized for its lightweight warmth. With its intricate geometric motifs and cardigan styling, it closes with cedar wood buttons.

A festival of green hues adds an enchanting vibe to Fernando Cano's knit hat. Crafted in Peru, this 100% alpaca accessory features the Andean textile's typical softness and a gorgeous nature-inspired pattern made of geometric figures. As a cute accent, a little pompom decorates the hat's top.

Peruvian artisan Idelsa Guevara chooses blue, grey and white alpaca yarns to handcraft this cute accessory. Using the traditional crochet technique, the artisan creates a cozy and warm hat perfect for those cold winter days.

Add softness, cozyness and sophistication to those cold winter days! Peruvian artisan Maritza Oviedo handcrafts a pair of baby alpaca blend leg warmers whose polyamide accents convey a warm sensation. The accessories, knit by hand, feature a dapper palette of azure and grey hues, allowing you to complement your ensembles with an elegant touch.

Whispering of the Peruvian past, soft turquoise, gray and black reverberate like memories. Wilmer Vilchez works in precious alpaca wool to create a beautiful shawl on the traditional handloom.

Inca-inspired patterns add unique charm to this handcrafted 100% alpaca shoulder bag. The artisans of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco start from scratch to create it--raising the alpacas and llamas to obtain the fleece; shearing, dyeing and spinning the wool; and weaving the textile on a traditional waist loom. The fully-lined bag closes with a zipper and features an interior zipper pocket.

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.