collar scarf

This scarf displays various shades of grey, red and and black in a classic design by Peru's Felipe Berckholtz. The scarf is woven with the wool from the season's first shear, termed baby alpaca and much sought after for its soft, lightweight warmth. The ancient Inca discovered the attributes of this fiber, reserving it for the exclusive use of the aristocracy.

Versatile with lightweight warmth, this reversible alpaca-blend cloak is great for travel in changeable climates. Modeled after the Andean ruana, a traditional style of draped cloak, its pattern of flowers in smoky grey and black is inspired by the wildlife of the Peruvian mountainside. The generous attached scarf and button front keep you warm when winds pick up.

Versatile with lightweight warmth, this reversible alpaca-blend cloak is great for travel in changeable climates. Modeled after the Andean ruana, a traditional style of draped cloak, its pattern of flowers in smoky grey and black is inspired by the wildlife of the Peruvian mountainside. The generous attached scarf and button front keep you warm when winds pick up.

Golden highlights add a regal touch to this superlative textile by the Gobah-Tengey family. Created in rich kente cloth strips, its name means "Conference in Angola." Takpekpe was designed in 1950 by the late Atsu Gobah Tengey-Seddoh to commemorate a special meeting called by the colonial governor to discuss an additional tax or levy being imposed on the subjects. The conference raised voices against the payment of the special levy.

Expert weavers, the Gobah Tengey-Seddoh Family creates this outstanding shawl in 100% cotton. Each strip requires considerable effort, and the looms are worked with both hands and feet. Strips are generally three to four inches wide and seven to ten feet long, and the length of time it takes to complete one strip varies by the complexity of the chosen pattern. The simplest use mostly vertical, or warp patterns, and an experienced weaver can make several of those in one day. But patterns with nearly all weft (horizontal thread) patterns where the warp design is hardly visible can take up to four days to complete an individual strip. Each color has its own meanings in Asante culture. Green is fertility and new harvest, gold is royalty, black is strength, aging, and spirituality, while white is purity. The patterns themselves are carefully chosen symbols, which a master weaver develops and names, often to honor people, historical events, or proverbs.

Hand wash in cool water and use a warm iron.