Wari 'throws' its mix into U.S. ring

By Don Hogsett -- Home Textiles Today, 4/29/2002 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK —

Preserving, and expanding upon, many of the Andean traditions of her native Bolivia, Teresa Sierra and her company, Wari, showed off a line of super-fine baby Alpaca hand-woven throws, shawls and scarves at the New York Home Textiles Show.

Wari, headquartered in La Paz, Bolivia, has been in business for the past 10 years, orchestrating the work of local artisans and hand-weavers. Now, building on growing exports to Spain and Germany, she has "set out in search of a larger market" for this super-fine ultra-luxury fiber, she said.

"We have a wonderful story to tell… And everything is completely hand-loomed by the indigenous craftsmen and women. We encourage them to preserve and display their traditional weaving skills, which have been handed down from their Inca ancestors."

The entire line of throws, scarves and shawls is hand-woven on horizontal looms using only natural dyes, she said. The throws are priced at $99 out of San Francisco, where she is represented by Dax Meazell.