Watana – Handwoven narrow mesa ribbon

A Watana is a hand-woven band used in many Andean communities. The name comes from Quechua and is related to the verb watay , which means to tie or to bind – a description of the band’s traditional function.

In the mesa tradition, a Watana is used to tie together a folded Mestana and keep its contents together when the mesa is not in use. The ribbon becomes a natural part of the whole and is used to carefully gather the textiles after ceremony or practice.

Just like the handwoven Mestanas, each Watana is handwoven by skilled artisans in Peru. The colorful patterns and hand-knotted tassels make each ribbon unique, and slight variations in color and weave are a natural part of the traditional craft.

In addition to their use with a Mestana, Watanas also appear in other parts of Andean daily life and crafts, where similar hand-woven bands are used to tie together and carry various objects.

Product information

• Handwoven in Peru
• Traditional Andean crafts
• Used to tie a Mestana together
• Length: Approx. 106cm