This
unremarkable
small town
about two
hours north
of Quito
on the Pan-American
Highway, is
nonetheless
one of the
most popular
destinations
for visitors
to Ecuador.
Its world-famous
market for
indigenous
crafts, textiles
and clothing
ranks among
the best in
Latin America
. The population
of the town
is around
50,000 people,
most of whom
are mestizos,
but about
twice as many
Quichua-speaking
Otavalenos
live in the
surrounding
areas and
flood into
town on market
days.
Background
Indigenas
in the
Otavalo area
have been
spinning and
weaving for
longer than
anyone can
remember.
Following
the Inca conquest
500 years
ago, despite
a long and
fierce resistance
by the Otavalans,
the victors
from the south
extracted
a textile
tribute. Though
the Incas
were only
in control
for about
40 years,
this was long
enough for
them to leave
their mark.
The Quichua
language spoken
by the Otavalan
Indians comes
from the Incas
and the elegant
women's costume,
which is still
universally
worn, is said
to be closer
to Inca dress
than any in
the Andes
today. After
the Spanish
defeated the
Incas in the
middle of
the 16th century,
they set about
exploiting
the weaving
skills of
the Otavalans
by setting
up textile
workshops
[obrajes]
where hundreds
of indigenas
were
forced to
work unbearably
long hours.
Some of the
workers were
less than
10 years old
and committed
suicide to
avoid the
intolerable
conditions.
The Spanish
introduced
modern machinery,
including
treadle looms,
as well as
sheep, wool
and techniques
of production
weaving. From
the early
18th century
many haciendas
operated weaving
workshops,
and at the
beginning
of the 20th
century Otavalan
weavers began
making imitation
British tweeds.
Land reforms
in 1964 gave
weavers more
independence,
tourism began
to develop
in the area
and the weaving
industry started
to take off.
Today the
Otavalo indigenas
are considered
to be the
most prosperous
indigenous
group in Latin
America. They
own many businesses
in Otavalo,
including
craft shops,
restaurants,
bars and travel
agencies,
and they have
developed
an international
network to
sell their
products to
neighbouring
countries
as well as
North America,
Europe and
Japan .
More than
three-quarters
of Otavalan
indigenas
are
thought to
be involved
in the textile
industry in
some way,
whether weaving
and spinning
at home or
working with
one of the
larger production
houses or
retail outlets.
Others have
become lawyers,
doctors and
engineers.
The head of
the prestigious
Archaeology
Department
of the Banco
Central is
an Otavalan
indigena.
The Otavalan
weaving phenomenon
is a fascinating
story of how
a small indigenous
community
has pulled
itself out
of the trap
of poverty
and developed
its own successful,
world-wide
business operation.
While achieving
commercial
success the
Otavalan indigenas
have
also managed
to maintain
their cultural
identity and
traditions.
Most visibly,
they still
wear their
unique traditional
costumes.
Otavalan men
favour calf-length
white trousers,
grey or blue
ponchos, rope
sandals and
dark felt
hats, while
women display
embroidered
white blouses,
dark skirts
and shawls,
masses of
golden glass
beads around
their neck,
red bead bracelets
and cloth
headgear which
is folded
in various
significant
ways. Most
distinctively,
both women
and men wear
their hair
in a long
single pigtail
that is often
tied back
with a bright
woven band.
The traditional
costumes are
worn daily
at home and
in the villages,
not to impress
tourists in
the market.
Last updated
20th July
2006
| |Article contributed by Dominic Hamilton||| |
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