chaleko (Vest)

Worn by men for everyday and ceremonial occasions. The tradition of regionally distinctive dress is still a feature of some of the remote villages of highland Peru. The costumes are a mixture of Spanish influence with surviving indigenous aspects and materials.

Vest, man's, made from a piece of handspun, hand-woven bayeta (burlap) covered with hot pink castilla cloth of machine-woven wool on the front. The vest is adorned with bright green and blue cotton bands, and white and yellow rickrack. Machine embroidery, dominated by floral designs, decorate the pockets and edges. A large flower is embroidered above each pocket. A stand-up collar is formed by a flap of embroidered castilla at the back centre.