An Exploratory Analysis of Andean Textiles and their Cultural Significance

BIC 3528

This paper investigates the rich legacy of textile production among the indigenous peoples of the Andean region of South America throughout history from the earliest evidence of spun fibers to the present day. Specifically, the research explores the relationship between Andean textiles and the political, social, economic, and cultural spheres of the native populations by obtaining secondary information about the textile industry at specific points throughout their history and drawing connections to information about their societies as a whole from other secondary sources. This has been accomplished by examining gender constructs within native societies; the role textiles played in political systems and economy of the Incan Empire, the Spanish Empire, and the decolonization era; and the ritual and mythological significance behind the figures woven into the fabrics. Upon analyzing textiles through each of these lenses, the centrality of textiles to the Andean way of life becomes apparent. This historical context becomes important as modern indigenous people struggle to maintain both their cultural identity and their economic viability in a globalized market where they are forced to abandon their complex artistry for simpler, more economical methods of textile production and where the legacy of their ancient art may soon be forgotten.