Backstrap Handwoven Red and Olive Alpaca Shoulder Bag, "Andean Prairie"

Ancestral images become intricate geometric motifs in a shoulder bag for year-round fashion. By artisans of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco, its fabric is woven by hand on a backstrap loom, combining blue and with two shades of olive green on a deep red background. They utilize patterns that derive from Inca art 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.