Poncho 1960 - 1970

This poncho was woven anonymously, and the textile shows us a lot about the culture of its making. Look closely, and you'll see that the red ground is punctuated by vertical stripes, woven in different colors. This would have been a labor-intensive undertaking. Every pass of the shuttle carefully considered, with absolute regularity achieved. Weaving is of course one of humankind's oldest technologies, with deep social significance. In many cultures, it is associated with the idea of community, a collective investment of time. The regularity in the pattern speaks to the human desire to create order, and the weaver would have found satisfaction in their work. Wearing this textile, the owner would have been reminded of the person who made it, and of a larger pattern of social life. This is where the poncho's real value lies, far beyond its mere function as clothing. It’s a symbol of human connection.