Inti Wristlet with Pompom in Rosewood

This chic handmade wristlet is the perfect ‘grab and go’ accessory; compact and easy to carry, it fits all your essentials for a quick shopping trip or a night on the town. Handwoven from non-toxic dyed sheep wool, the traditional half Chakana woven design is complemented by a locally-sourced leather wrist strap. A pom-pom zipper pull adds a fun, eye-catching design detail

Textile Tradition: In the Andes, women artisans use the backstrap loom for traditional woven textiles. It is a completely non-mechanised loom, the oldest form in the world. It is constructed with wood, bone and strings, easily portable and possible to be set up in the home or elsewhere. All of the textiles used in Awamaki’s bags and purses are woven on back-strap looms by women living in remote Andean communities around the Sacred Valley. 

Story of the Design: The textile design is inspired by the Chakana, a very important symbol in the Incan culture, also known as the Incan Cross. The Chakana symbolizes the dynamic between the universe and the life it contains. The four “arms” of any chakana represent the four ‘classical elements’ of earth, air, water and fire; the four directions of the compass and four seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn.

Artisans: Awamaki works with different cooperatives in the Patacancha and Kelkanka communities for woven textiles, it is based on a rotation system to ensure income and orders are equally distributed amongst the artisans. There are 3 cooperatives – Awac Phuna, Songuillay and Wakanquilla Kelkanca – with about 90 women artisans who partner with Awamaki to weave textiles.