Fair Trade Fashion and Design

Traditional Mapuche Loom

Weaving knowledge has been passed down in the Mapuche communities of Chile from mother to daughter for countless generations, and even today most women report having learned from their families. Tapestries, blankets, and clothes are woven from traditional rectangular looms built of wooden frames. This weaving technique allows for the weavers to blend symbols, patterns and textures.

Mapuche ladies weaving in their kitchen

Mapuche weaving is made completely sustainably using traditional techniques on home-built frame looms.  Weaving is liberating to women of the Araucanía region because it can be done from home, meaning they can raise their families in their communities. Women can make an income without having to leave for cities to find employment, presenting an alternative to rural flight.

Diagram of a Mapuche Loom

Weaving is key to environmental and cultural preservation in the Aracaunía region. As opposed to deforestation seen often in struggling indigenous communities, when a craft uses only easily replenishable materials, no plants or animals are destroyed in the process. Furthermore, the Mapuche weaving technique relies solely on hand-spun yarn and natural dyes crafted from 100% sustainably harvested vegetation: no pollution results from machines or harmful chemicals. Mapuche weaving is a productive livelihood that results in a net-positive affect on the environment (as it encourages bio-diversity in the plants used and the dye pulp can be used as fertilizer).

More importantly, weaving helps preserve the culture of the Mapuche people.  The more weaving is practiced, the more Mapuche craft techniques and styles are shared.  The symbols in the textiles refer to images from Mapuche history and cosmological beliefs, and are often used to tell graphic stories.  When women can make a living from weaving, they are able to practice and teach their culture as a part of their profession. In the process, much of this knowledge is imparted upon the younger generation.  Furthermore, when those textiles are created and circulated, the Mapuche story is also celebrated beyond the rural communities of their creators.

Mapuche Lady Weaving