Research
The location
The tradition
The background
The culture
The weaving art
The products
Current times
Andean weaving occurs primarily in the Andes territory. Weaving expanded and was produced in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile (Brownlow, 2015, 2). It has also been acknowledged in other South American countries like Argentina and Venezuela. Andean communities developed strategies and techniques that made quality products that are still around today. For example, several products are found in The MET (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) in New York City.
In Andean culture, textile weaving is a tradition that has gone back generations. It has a rich history built with methods that Native indigenous tribes have practiced and perfected throughout the years. Sims explains that tradition is the sharing of something with cultural significance that is between group members (Sims, 2011, 97-69. Even though the tradition was a lot more common in the past, it is still present in modern society. It is alive in education that is shared by Andean natives and descendants who are passionate about teaching or representing learned methods.
Textile weaving has been traced back to the earliest days. Especially known in the Inca empire. According to Harry Sanabria, textile weaving has been recognized in urban settlements from 3,900-to 2500 years ago (Sanabria, 2019). This is an art that has survived years of industrialization and expansion. Zorn also explains that samples have been found from the Archeological Period, Historical Period, and Contemporary Period (Zorn, 2004). As locations soon witnessed techniques all over Latin America, weaving grew in popularity and has remained existent because members keep the tradition alive.
Weaving responsibilities also include tending to the farm animals and collecting natural resources that can help make the fabrics. Denise Arnold informs, "herding is a task managed by the women and children of the household, and learning early weaving tasks tends to occur while herding, with the mother, a favorite aunt or a peer as the main guide" (Arnold, 2018, 248). Although current times are encouraging more gender-inclusive opportunities, women were the main contributors to the weaving tradition. Though there may have been a small minority of men who picked up the tradition, many communities relied on females to lead in this tradition. The women were also responsible for teaching the young children how to replicate ancient techniques.
By using raw materials that are created from nature, the quality of weaved items can be a lot more resilient. An example used a lot was wool or fiber which was dyed with plants and other natural resources. This allows for new designs and creative strategies that can be appreciated by the community. Concerning the collection process, Arnold explains "the procurement of fiber by rearing fiber-producing animals (llamas and alpacas), and sheep for their wool, are closely intercalated with familial nurturing, child rearing and learning processes in both household and community domains, in a common way of life, of which textile-making forms an integral part" (Arnold, 2018, 244). In this understanding, the entire process is rooted into their culture from history of developing and perfecting weaving. With so many different colors, styles, and structures of design, ancient weaving art has a flexible technique that is admired by many who appreciate Indigenous South American culture.
After collecting all of the materials, the most common weaving creation were textiles for creating clothes, bracelets, hats, and other valuable materials. Some further examples are blankets, baskets, mantels and tunics (See current artifacts below). Although ancient traditions originally started with hand-weaving, technologies such as looms and other instruments were used to make the process easier. Julia McHugh explains, "metallic threads, European looms, and the introduction of sheep’s wool and foreign fabrics had a profound impact on local Andean textile traditions" (McHugh, 2020).
Weaving items are worn for every day activities as well as more important rituals. Depending on the sophistication of the piece, people in high social classes may wear more elaborate pieces. Julia McHugh states, "Garments served as important markers of identity and status, and encoded signs and symbols that differentiated royalty from commoners" (McHugh, 2020).
One way Andean culture stays present is in marriage rituals that are celebrating this aspect of Latin American culture. Members come to ceremonies wearing the weaved clothing items and represent Andean indigenous tribe heritage. They might even be working on a woman's wedding mantel which can be a really special gift.
Tourism has also been a big factor that has helped keep this folklore tradition thriving. Many different people visit these locations and learn ancient history that is important for representing this art. The Andean Indigenous culture has passed techniques and methods along in order to keep weaving around. It is favored by people who appreciate the time and creativity that goes into the creation of the products. Families and experts in the communities try to educate on Andean weaving culture so that it is not replaced by industrial technology. Even though it might be produced quicker, the products are artificial and won't last as long as natural resources. Overall, this tradition is so special because of the balance between creativity, quality and authenticity.
image sources:
Pamela Huber - https://unsplash.com/@pamelahuber
The MET https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search?q=Andean&sortBy=Relevance&pageSize=0
Image courtesy of Wix - Image by bradford zak
