Chinchero Andean Textile Shoulder Bag (CC-13) – Green with Tassel & Gusset

Chinchero Unisex Textile Shoulder Bag CC-08;

This a handcrafted Peruvian alpaca shoulder bag, featuring a button flap, tassels, and side gussets. Lined inside with a small internal zipped pocket, this versatile bag is handmade by local artisan shamans in Cusco, Peru. Traditionally, shamans use these bags to hold medicine bundles, stones, and keepsakes. The bag is designed for both men and women and can be worn over the shoulder or around the neck, reflecting the vibrant colors and intricate patterns of Andean textiles.

Origin:

Textiles made by the people of the earth, enriched with tradition and symbolic of their area and type, are deeply rooted in the Peruvian Andes. This region, home to the Inka civilization, includes Chinchero, a town situated slightly higher than Cusco, the Inka capital, and serves as a gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.

Inka shamans reside high in the mountains, with Chinchero itself lying in the Sacred Valley. The Qero shamans, many of whom have relocated from the high-altitude 'Qeros' near Ausangate (a sacred mountain at 5500 meters above sea level), represent a crucial link to these ancient traditions. Ausangate is one of twelve sacred mountains, revered as either a masculine mountain or a masculine force held by the Earth Mother, in contrast to the Sacred Feminine Mountain of Salkantay, known for its wild, untamed nature and considered by some as the Earth Mother embodying femininity.

The local peoples, born and raised in these stunning yet harsh landscapes, have developed rich traditions over time. Weavers infuse their cloths with magical patterns and symbols that reflect their region, village, and family heritage, creating textiles that embody both the beauty and the harshness of their environment.