KUNA Milenium

A tribute to more than 3,500 years of textile history

For the artist Fernando de Szyszlo, the most prominent contribution made by the Peruvian civilization to world art history is, undoubtedly, the textile work produced approximately between 1400 BC and 1600 AD.

Fernando de Szyszlo Artist

Thanks to their notable dexterity, Andean cultures are known to be one of the most important textile meccas and owners of a legacy that has travelled around the world. Advocated to nurture these textiles, KUNA conceives garments and accessories ready to amaze the world once again following a millenary tradition.

This philosophy is flawlessly reflected in our Milenium collection, which recreates the technical and beauty feats achieved by ancient Peruvian weavers. Mileniumwhich recreates the technical and beauty feats achieved by ancient Peruvian weavers.

As they developed throughout 3,500 years, our ancestors´ contributions are certainly diverse and numerous to name all of them. However, we can have a good idea by highlighting some of the cultures that settled down on the vast Andean territory: Chavín, Paracas, Mochica, Huari, Lambayeque, Nazca, Chimú and Inca. Inspired by those cultures, this collection was conceived as a tribute to our home, the true birthplace of talented textile artisans.

An iconic piece of this collection is a limited-edition textile mural that will be exhibited in the new terminal of the Lima International Airport. Made of fine Royal Alpaca and silk threads, this textile is 1.85 meters wide and 3.66 meters tall and embellished by different hues on both sides. The splendid weave pays homage to complex techniques, patterns and motifs used by the Huari, Lambayeque and Nazca cultures.

Textile Mural - Decorative design by KUNA Milenium

The textile mural, designed and weaved in the Incalpaca´s facilities by expert artisans and master craftsmen, features a jacquard design and is part of a legacy that continues to evolve, and Kuna wants to share it with the world.

HUARI.- La representación geométrica está orientada alrededor de caras que ostentan un aspecto tanto frontal como de perfil, constituyendo así una de las “trampas visuales” a las cuales el tejedor andino recurre frecuentemente. — **HUARI**A geometrical figure is placed around faces seen from the front as well as from the side. This is one of many trompe-l´œils often used by Andean weavers.

Detalle de la cultura Paracas — **NAZCA.** – Paracas Necrópolis, Horizonte Temprano 10, ca. 700 a 500 a. C.: Diseño antropomorfo alterno con cuatro apéndices terminados en cabezas trofeo. La forma del cuerpo es semejante a un pallar.

CHANCAY. - Cultura Chancay, Período Posclásico d. C. 1400: Diseño de pájaros sosteniendo ranas en su boca. El cisne probablemente representa la autoridad por lo que siempre ostenta una gran corona encima. El real significado de estas iconografías no se conoce; sin embargo, se puede intuir que a menudo, este tipo de figuras sosteniendo trofeos en sus bocas, simbolizan la captura de los enemigos. — **LAMBAYEQUE**. - Design of birds holding frogs in their mouth. The swan probably represents authority so it always holds a large crown on top. The real meaning of these iconographies is not known; however, it can be intuited that often, this type of figures holding trophies in their mouths, symbolize the capture of enemies.

NAZCA.- Motivos zoomorfos bordados. — **NAZCA**.- Embroidered zoomorphic motifs.

KUNA. Feel the Hands of the Andes. kunastores.com

Authors: Andrés Chaves y John Esquivel

Bibliography consulted:

Textiles of the Andes | Catalog of Amano Collection | Selected by Yoshitaro Amano | Edited By Yukihiro Tsunoyama | Publicado por Dohosha

Arte Textil del Perú | Creada y dirigida por José Antonio de Lavalle y José Alejandro González García | Industria Textil Piura.