Chullo

Chullo (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈtʃuʎo], from Aymara: ch'ullu) is an andean style of hat with earflaps, made from vicuña, alpaca, llama or sheep's wool.^[1] Alpaca has wool-like qualities that help to insulate its wearer from the harsh elements in the Andean Mountain region. Chullos often have ear-flaps that can be tied under the chin, to further warm the wearer's head.

Chullos have been used in the Andean Mountain region since pre-Hispanic times and wearing different types and colors has a significance among the Andean natives.

Western fashion

In the late 2000s, the chullo became an extremely popular winter hat; it was seen often in popular culture of the time, arguably made most famous by the popularity of Snowboarding. It remains highly popular in North America, Europe, and of course Peru, Bolivia and Chile. Many metropolitan areas in the Western world have street vendors from Peru and Bolivia who set up tables on which they sell chullos and wallets that have been made in Peru or Bolivia. In North America they are often referred to as Incan (or Inca) Hats, and sometimes as Sherpa Hats, as this type of hat also exists in Nepal, being worn by Nepali people; especially in the Himalayan Region.

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  Alpaca Chullo

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  Alpaca Chullo

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  Alpaca Chullos of different colours.

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  chullos with different designs.

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  Chullo.

References

1. ^ Leslie, Catherine Amoroso (2007). Needlework Through History: An Encyclopedia. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 101. ISBN 0313335486. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=GezzyLFNSgMC&pg=PA101&dq=Chullo+%2Balpaca&as_brr=3&client=firefox-a&sig=9XQ37BDLrc58o64tiP7czcOkb18.