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The macana, the handmade fabric of southern Ecuador, is intangible heritage
Posted On 22 Apr 2019
Ecuadornews:
The confection of the cloth gualaceño or macana, intangible heritage of Ecuador, is a centennial tradition of Azuay.
This shawl is one of the most valued items of the Sierra for its production by dyeing and weaving cloth methods that have passed from parents to children, similar to those of ikat, of Malay origin.
“Just to weave a piece takes one day. And the process of weaving and tying the design takes us three to four days,” explained the artisan Carmen Orellana, from whose hands came the chasuble that Pope Francis used in the mass that he officiated in Quito in 2015.
The price of the cloth ranges from $ 40 to $ 500, depending on the type of yarn used and the number of knots required by her employer.
The dye comes from plants, insects, fruits and vegetables. The loom that Orellana uses in Gualaceo inherited it from her grandparents. (I)
