ladies poncho

For the tender woman, this poncho displays alternating colors of burgundy and cornsilk. Mexican artisan Petrona Gomez hand-weaves this artisanal poncho from cotton yarns on the traditional telar de cintura, or backstrap loom. Geometric patterns run from the folded neckline, and the poncho's bottom is decorated with fringes.

Designer Luisa Villavicencio and her family maintain the last remaining cotton farm in Guatemala, where they produce the materials used in their natural fashions. This laid-back poncho is created using undyed cotton and reclaimed denim fibers in a striking asymmetrical design with fringe details.
Luisa's family cultivates cotton in several natural colors, and the family is involved in the entire process, from growing the cotton to transforming it into apparel. Says Luisa, "There are 80 artisans working with us. Some are civil war widows. Others always felt that they couldn't do anything, and we've been able to change that negative self image... A lot of families depend on us. I feel I have a great duty to them, to my parents and to my country, whose textile tradition should not be lost."

To create this elegant poncho, Guatemalan artisan Elena Ixtamer fuses cotton yarns of carnation, tangerine, viridian, and black. She works on a traditional loom, weaving the yarns by hand to create stripes and other patterns. This poncho culminates in a point that is accented by dangling fringe work.

Knit from 100% cotton in a solid cerulean hue, this charming poncho is created by artisan duo Ying and Joy in Thailand. Elaborate patterns decorate the chest while cable-knit designs accentuate the top and bottom of this piece, which is completed with long fringe.