Poncho Party

Story by Paije Maas | Photos by Noah Wright | Design by Morgan Rosentrater

When you think of ponchos, what is the first visual that seeps into your mind? Wool fabric, various colors and patterns, but most importantly, culture. Ponchos are not a part of just one culture but many. Their colors and patterns differ depending on the story behind them and the way they are worn. While they have never truly left the fashion world, they have certainly circled back into becoming more popular.

Maria and Tyler Chavez are the owners of an Etsy shop called Little Otavalo. They are from Toronto, Canada and they sell ponchos that were handmade by the Indigenous people of Otavalo in the Andres Mountains of Ecuador. “The designs can be traced back to generations of weavers passing down their variations, patterns, and color schemes.” Chavez says that the designs are also inspired by other indigenous patterns around the world. Rise of Popularity

The couple mentions that within the last two years they have sold more ponchos than ever before. “We think it may have to do with more indigenous exposure in mainstream media”. Ponchos have certainly evolved and there are multiple kinds of ponchos that can be worn for any occasion. Modern ponchos can be seen as not fully over the head but will lay across the shoulders and you can pair it with jeans and a boot or sneaker. When it comes to traditional ponchos, the Chavez couple do not sell

“We love to explore new designs and color patters that can veer away from traditional.”

them in their shop because they say, “they can take months to create and thousands of dollars to buy and are typically only worn by Otavalenos.”

Traditional ponchos are made typically from alpaca wool and only have one opening for the head. An article covered this year by Instyle magazine states that the rise of Y2K fashion is among us and ponchos are within that circle. It mentions that celebrities like Jennifer Lopez have been spotted sporting the “old school staple” poncho while running their daily errands. Aside from celebrity wear, ponchos have been making a comeback in runway fashion as well. Gabriela Hearst, a women’s luxury and accessories designer showcased the poncho seen on Jennifer Lopez during her Spring 2022 fashion show. Well-known designers like Louis Vuitton and Gucci have luxurious ponchos in the works as well.