CUZCO MESSENGER CROSS BODY SHOULDER CASUAL HANDBAG FOR WOMEN AND MEN BY MACHU PICCHU STORE (Magenta)

Description

Color:Magenta TEXTILES: THE INCAS GIFT TO THE WORLDHave you ever thought about gifts? You probably have, most of us do around the holidays, but do you ever stop to consider what gift giving represents? The practice of giving gifts is important, and so gifts represent value. The more important the situation is, the more valuable the gifts.So, in the 16th century, when Spanish conquistadors were first welcomed into the Peruvian Inca Empire by a powerful emperor who wanted to show off his wealth and power to these newcomers, can you guess what he gave them? Not gold, but textiles.To the people of the Inca Empire, the largest military state of indigenous South America, few things were as valuable as their woven fabrics. As far as the Inca were concerned, this was their gift.To ensure the steady production of the fine textiles that the empire required to function, the Inca established production centers throughout their territory. Much larger than any workhouse then in existence in Europe, these textile production centers were run by chosen women and men trained from a young age to be the finest weavers in the empire.THE INCAS TEXTILES STILL PRESENTAlthough the textile tradition was inherited, the importance of it was still very present. Differing types of labor varied in its production, creating numerous occupations for the people of the Andes.The process of creating textiles is strenuous. Cotton had to be raised, harvested, washed, combed, dyed, and spun, and alpacas and llamas were herded and sheared to provide wool. This had to happen before weaving could commence, and the design had to be planned prior to the creation as well. After the loom was set up, the artists could finally begin their weaving.Nowadays, thanks to the progress of the science and the requirements of the market, we, the Peruvian Craftsmen, heirs of this old knowledge, have been able to make beautiful bags that you can use and show to your friends.