long scarf

Creating elegant paths, dashes of black and white decorate the striped patterns of this lapis blue scarf from Guatemala. Candelaria Julajuj creates this scarf, which she weaves by hand from cotton. Hand-knotted fringe work decorates this scarf at the ends.

Evoking the beauty of the ocean, this scarf is decorated with subtle stripes of navy. Guatemalan artisan Candelaria Julajuj creates this scarf, which is handwoven from cotton on a traditional loom. A striped pattern in black, white and turquoise decorates this scarf, which is accented at the ends with hand-knotted fringe work.

Floral bouquets grace shimmering silk, the intricate motifs created in batik. Part of Melati's Collection, the pale blue scarf features a beautiful fringe.

Creating fantastic shapes, patterns of royal blue and snow white decorate this magnificent shawl from Guatemala. Elena Ixtamer creates this shawl, applying the motifs using the shibori technique; each rayon thread is meticulously tie-dyed before the entire piece is woven by hand on a traditional loom. Elegant fringe work accents the ends of this shawl.

Subtly elegant, this toasty scarf is from Peru's Raquel and Gregor. Artisans weave the scarf on traditional looms in blue, grey and black in a mesmerizing basketweave pattern. Long fringe accents both ends.

Cotton yarns add rich texture to this brilliant kente cloth shawl by the Gobah Tengey-Seddoh Family. Strips of black, white and blue make a dramatic and handsome color combination. Designed and woven of coarse local cotton in the 12th century, the lokpo pattern means "heavy or thick in texture."

Each strip requires considerable effort, and the looms are worked with both hands and feet. Strips are generally three to four inches wide and seven to ten feet long, and the length of time it takes to complete one strip varies by the complexity of the chosen pattern. The simplest use mostly vertical, or warp patterns, and an experienced weaver can make several of those in one day. However patterns with nearly all weft (horizontal thread) patterns where the warp design is hardly visible can take up to four days to complete an individual strip. Each color has its own meanings in Asante culture. Green is fertility and new harvest, gold is royalty, black is strength, aging and spirituality, while white is purity. The patterns themselves are carefully chosen symbols, which a master weaver develops and names, often to honor people, historical events, or proverbs.