CLOTHING OF THE SIERRA DEL PERÚ: COMMON GARMENTS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The clothing of the mountains of Peru is very diverse, due to the influence of different cultures, such as the Spanish. It also varies by area. Some of the common garments are the chullo, shirts or chillicos.

The sierra of Peru is an area with natural beauty and its inhabitants have traditions that distinguish them from other places. Starting with the Spanish conquest, almost all the Peruvian customs and traditions of the inhabitants of the Andes area were affected, particularly their way of dressing.

Quechua elders in traditional clothing in a small ceremony in the Pisac market.

Dress codes were imposed on the Indians. One of the male autochthonous pieces of the Inca nobility that disappeared was the traditional “unku”, which consisted of a large and very long shirt, without a collar, with ornaments in the form of solar, geometric and symbolic figures woven by hand.

You may also be interested in the 4 most important typical dances of the Sierra del Peru.

How do the inhabitants of the Peruvian Sierra dress?

Each rural area of ​​the Peruvian highlands has specific characteristics in its attire such as colors, shapes, legends, accessories and volume.

The costumes of the women of the sierra were known by the Inca name “a nacu”. These underwent changes; women came to use skirts combined with several colorful capes, which inside have cotton covers that serve as a coat.

For their part, men when dressing use blankets or ponchos of many colors in such a way that they cover their chest, with generally dark colored pants, they wear Yankees or shoes as footwear, their hair is always short, socks or socks are always short. They wear long and their shirts are white and colorful vests.

Not only do men from the Peruvian highlands wear ponchos of multiple colors, women from also wear them.

In addition, they braid their hair, which they usually wear long, with many ornaments and they carry blankets tied to their back that they use to carry their babies or carry some things.

These ponchos are large pieces of clothing that have an opening in the center that allows the head to enter, they are made of different types depending on the region where they are made and are also used for specific purposes, although some inhabitants use it daily, most save them for special occasions.

Typical garments of the Peruvian Sierra

1- The chullo

It is the garment characteristic of the origin of the settlers. For daily use, it has a wide variety of very striking colors and impressive shapes.

It is made by hand, with ear flaps and tassels on the tip. They are usually made of alpaca or sheep wool.

2- The shirts

They are made with various materials on home looms and some are purchased in the markets or fairs in the towns.

3- The chillicos

They are very bright colorful vests, which are worn over shirts, their edges are adorned with hand-embroidered ribbons of many colors, the most prevalent colors are black, red, blue and green.

4- The pants

The most traditional are used in dark colors and woolen fabrics or thick fabrics known as cloths are used for their preparation. They are usually fastened at the waist with multi-colored belts, known as chumpi.

5- Flip flops

With this name, the footwear used in the Peruvian Andes is known, they are a type of sandals that during their manufacture use old tires that serve as the base of the footwear.

6- The monteras

They are the outerwear of the head made of cloth. The most used colors in its elaboration are red, black and white. Its of Spanish origin.

7- The almilla

It is the jacket used by women, known as a jacket, it is sewn in colored fabrics, its front and cuffs are adorned with colored ribbons, buttons and glass beads.

It should be noted that the novelties of materials offered in the peasant markets contribute to women changing the adornments of their jackets frequently.

8- The lliclla

They are garments that the women of the Peruvian highlands use to cover the shoulders and back, woven by hand, rectangular in shape with two equal halves, which are joined together by zigzag-shaped seams.

It is a very traditional garment, it is placed on the shoulders, it is fastened when passing it through the forehead, knotting it on the chest.

They also use some pins made by hand, known as "tupu", decorated with precious gems. They currently use safety pins.

9- The blankets

Generally made with three stripes, one in the center and two on each side, decorated with geometric figures, figures of foxes, llamas, toads among others.

Each figure has a name and meaning that only weavers interpret. For them the rhombuses represent the sun.

10- The skirts

They are thick woolen or woven skirts, usually black, the edges of which are adorned with woven ribbons known as golones. Like men, they are fastened at the waist with a belt called chumpi.

The skirts are cut in their confection in colored stripes called "puyto", woven by hand in the form of frayed covers that give the impression of being swollen.

The change of clothing with the arrival of the Spanish

Viceroy Francisco de Toledo demanded that Peruvian men wear costumes of Spanish origin and demanded that women change the style of the traditional “anacu”. However, these simple men and women did not stop using the “unku” that characterized them but in coarser fabric and the woman, the “anacu” in black, as a way of showing resistance.

The clothes used in the mountains are too colorful, especially in the Arequipa, Cusco, Ayacucho and Puno departments.

Those who engage in scissor dances wear their costumes adorned with mirrors and on the back they embroider their God.

It is very common in Peru for men to wear hats with special stripes called "centillo", of multiple colors. The sweaters are too hot because they are made of synthetic material and are adorned with geometric shapes and engraved animal figures.

The traditional clothing of the women of these places are ponchos, dresses, blankets, skirts, tunics and hats.

Changing in each town to give special particularity to their traditions, that is, according to the type of hat that is used, the inhabitants can deduce if the person is from a town or city and if he is from a rich or poor family.

In the Peruvian highlands you can see outfits that are inherited from their ancestors, very common in rural areas, where they still retain some elements in their clothing that were previously worn by the Incas.

References

1. Blogdiario.com (2014) Typical Clothing of Peru. Recovered from: fccdiversidadcultural.blogdiario.com.
2. Ecured (2015) Typical Costume of Peru. Recovered from: ecured.cu.
3. Roldan, M. (2016) Typical Clothing of Peru. Recovered from: actualviajes.com.
4. Ossio, A. (1995) The Indians of Peru. Editorial Abya Yala. Bolivia
5. Leonardini, A. (2003) The engraving in republican Peru: historical dictionary. Editorial Fund UNMSM. Lime. Peru.
6. Peruvian Dress (2014) The Peruvian Dress. Recovered from: vestimentaperuana.blogspot.com.
7. Travel to Peru (2014) Typical Clothing of Peru. Recovered from: viajaraperu.com.