SHAWL OR MACANA BODY WRAP MADE BY IKAT HANDMADE TECHNIQUE IN ECUADOR... In the heart of South Andean Ecuador, Gualaceo, lives a very special family, the Jimenez Ulloa, carriers of antique knitting traditions that probably will be dissapearing by the next decade. Due isolation, lack of loans for small artisans...
SHAWL OR MACANA BODY WRAP MADE BY IKAT HANDMADE TECHNIQUE IN ECUADOR
In the heart of South Andean Ecuador, Gualaceo, lives a very special family, the Jimenez Ulloa, carriers of antique knitting traditions that probably will be dissapearing by the next decade. Due isolation, lack of loans for small artisans in Ecuador, and the market preference for cheapeast goods, machine produced in Asian countries.
The head of this family, artist and artisan Jose Jimenez, stills leads the production of handmade "macanas", a shawl or oblong wrap used only by elegant women in Ecuador, which protects them from the cold andean winds in a fashion and colorful way. Because this wrap is unique, labor demanding and beautiful is highly appreciated in Europe and United States.
This wrap is unique because is produce with the "IKAT" technique, used by the Canari civilization, previous to the arrival of the Incas to Ecuador. This technique consist in design first the graphics motives, tie knots in the threads where we want the designs, then dip dye with natural and organic colors and finally spin the shawl in ancient looms.
The material use in the fabric are cotton, wool, cabuya and penca ( last two are andean fibers).
At the very end appears on the garment, Inca designs, Canari figures, birds, butterflies, flowers, squares and abstract shapes, mountains, etc. Every "macana" or shawl has a unique and special designs and colors as result of natural dies as charcoal, colored earth, flowers, fiber of fruits and plants, cochinilla or red worm,etc.
The production of each Macana can takes from 2 weeks to one month depending of the complexity of the design and the size of the garment. Get this beautiful Macana, it is like a Persian rug, a luxury product that can be wrap as a shawl, as a skirt and give the bright you need to any boring autumn and winter outfit.
The use of these macanas are enless and you can be sure, you will be the owner of an unique and artist piece, which production tradition is about to dissapear.
DESCRIPTION
PRODUCT: 1 MACANA, SHAWL OR BODY WRAP
ORIGIN: Imported, South America, Ecuador
COLOR: Multicolor, the ones showcased and described in each photography
MATERIAL: Sheep wool, cotton, cabuya and penca fibers from Andean corridor. Shawl is very thermal, strong and light weight, also hypoallergenic.
DESIGNS: Andean Designs, Incas and Canari.
COLORS: The colors shown in each picture, please check
All of them are very artistic and have unique in designs and colors. It is like wearing a artistic canvas wrapped around your body.
DIMENSIONS:
They are a rectangle 66 inches long by 23 inches wide, without counting the braided knots at the end
USES: Shwal or body wrap, skirt, and tapestry decoration for the table, sofa or can be framed on a wall
PRICES: My price is $ 39.99, these cotton macanas are retailed for $65 in Ecuador. I am adding a minimum fee for a priced unique artful clothing, in order to be competitive with machine made items offered by others vendors. But the production of this garment is labor intense and should be appreaciate for the lovers of unique items who want to offer a fair trade experience to the Ecuadorian artisans.
CARE: Doesn't need to be washed each time you wear it. In case you need to wash it in cold water, by hand with a soft "hand soap", don't squeeze, do not bleach to preserve thet natural dyes and hang in a white metalic or painted hanger to let it dry. If you wash it properly, you will keep the garment as new forever.
NOTE:
How to recognize an expensive knit? The thigher the fabric, the more material have been used to produce the garment, the looser or open the knit, then least material have been used to produce it, take in consideration that before made any purchase. This shwal is a very thight knit. A lot of cotton, wool and andean fibers have been used here.
SHIPPING AND PAYMENT:<>
Payment is due after 5 days of closing auction or commitment to buy. The shipping method used is USPS, Priority Mail.
Shipping cost is $5.75 for USA, $10.80 for Canada and for other international customers $13.
Items unpaid will be reported to the Ebay team as special cases and will be listed after 7 days.
Please feel free to ask anything you need to know about the item or shipping method, I will answer all the questions within 24 hours.
Images copied from eBay:
!BbhHdn!!mk~$(KGrHqUH-DkEqutDJNbHBKw(,Gkq1!~~_1_163_2.JPG,
!BbhHkO!!2k~$(KGrHqMH-D0EqupS)gbJBKw(,oNlYg~~_1_163_3.JPG,
!BbhHws!BGk~$(KGrHqIH-D!Eqtbsy9vNBKw(bqLFsQ~~_1_163_4.JPG
e-Gift Cards
Wish List
