Toquilla

CATACAOS REGION

The weavers of Catacaos are said to weave grass into silk using the fine fibres of toquilla palm. Toquilla is the name of a rare palm cultivated for its fine fibres. It is used by the master weavers of northern Peru, whose skills have been passed down through generations.  The town of Catacoas, in the Piura region of northern Peru, has been the home of a weaving community for centuries. This community of women weavers, deeply spiritual with exquisite talent, has been honoured by the Smithsonian and UNESCO for perfecting and preserving natural fibre weaving techniques that elevate this to a fine art. In the middle of the hundred or so weaving cottages is a huge earth covered mound called a Huaca, or temple. Its age is in the thousands of years. It is archaeology for the future. Peru is blessed with so much ancient heritage that funds for exploration are never enough. But one day the Huaca in Catacaos will reveal its secrets. Artefacts of the ageless weaving tradition of this area are sure to be among the discoveries. Each day as these women quietly weave their future, they seem anchored by this silent, earth covered monument to their ancestral traditions, the source of their skills, knowledge and inspiration.

 

IT BEGINS WITH A SINGLE BLADE OF GRASS

Nestled within the beauty of northern Peru lies the humble town of Catacaos – home to one of the world’s most ancient and honoured weaving communities. For centuries, these expert weavers have devoted themselves to the art of weaving intricate goods from the fine fibres of the prized toquilla palm. Now our master weavers are reimagining the ancient art of toquilla weaving with a new collection of exquisite handwoven products designed for the global marketplace. We named this collection Toquilla, honouring the fibre from which each piece is created.

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Toquilla is a rich fusion of modern design and time-honoured tradition. Each piece in the collection is a collaboration of Canadian and Peruvian design, combining today’s aesthetics with the timeless weaving techniques of Catacaos.

From hats to baskets to plant holders, Toquilla offers a playful range of handmade products for those looking for authentic artisanal designs with a contemporary aesthetic. And with a varied spectrum of designs, colours, patterns and sizes, this collection offers limitless versatility in any home.

 

BRAND[TRADE]: Opening Markets. Opening Minds.

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