The Men and Women of Otavalo
The Quechuas, indigenous people of Otavalo in Ecuador, are strong men and women with a long history of hard work, who in the past lived in communes and made their living from agriculture, music and art.
With the passage of time we have seen that our artisan crafted work product can be a source of income, and we choose to produce wearable items made of pure virgin wool obtained from selected animals.
Otavalo, beautiful and peaceful Andean land. Rest stop for friends and strangers, land of all. It is in Otavalo where
we have dedicated our efforts and abilities to the artisan production of beautiful articles of clothing.
Location
We are in Otavalo. The center of some of the finest handicrafts produced in Ecuador. It is from Otavalo that a variety of these crafts are exported to the Latin American Center. Our "Plaza de Ponchos" is known throughout the world.
All of our products for The Latin American Center in Buffalo New York are made from the highest quality raw materials. They are either knitted or crocheted by hand, or woven on looms. We pride ourselves on the high quality of our materials and the handicrafts we create. We invite you to accompany us on a tour which will further explain our many products.
The Process
The Wool |
Shearing the Sheep |
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Local sheep are our wool source. We select only the best fleece to use for our products. |
The wool is shorn from the sheep. |
Sorting the Fleece |
Dyeing the Fleece |
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Then it is sorted, combed and spun. |
With careful attention to the dyeing process, we can offer you permanent colors. You will be able to wash all our products. |
Weaving the Fabric
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Completing the Garment |
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Master weavers combine rich colors to create fabrics on handmade looms. |
Here is a picture of a local woman completing one of our popular designs. |
Care of the Garments
Our garments are made with the finest quality wool.
We suggest that you follow the instructions below in caring for your garments.
- Wash by hand in cold water or dry clean
- Don't put in dryer
