Anana — Hand-Embroidered Collars From Zuleta, Ecuador

Description

Embroidery From the Andes of Ecuador

Ecuadorian Essence brings Anana collars from Zuleta, a community in the parish of Angochagua, in the northern Andes of Ecuador, known across the country for its hand embroidery.
In Zuleta, embroidery is the work of the women of the community. According to the artisans themselves, the practice dates back to around 1900 and has been passed down for about six generations, from mothers and grandmothers to daughters.
Each Anana collar is made by hand and brought to the Washington DC area by Ecuadorian Essence, a family from Ecuador. You won’t find these pieces in department stores or large marketplaces.

The Embroidered Collar in Andean Dress

Ecuadorian Essence offers the embroidered collar because it is a central element of the traditional dress of Indigenous women in this region of Imbabura.
In the parishes of Angochagua and La Esperanza, women wear blouses whose collars and cuffs are embroidered by hand with threads of many colors. The collars and cuffs of Zuleta are valued well beyond the community: the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar in Quito exhibits a collection of them, framed, across its campus.

Designs Inspired by Nature

Anana collars follow the Zuleta tradition, in which the artisans draw their designs from the flora and fauna of their surroundings.
Flowers are among the most characteristic motifs of Zuleta embroidery. The designs are drawn and embroidered by the artisans themselves, so each piece carries the hand of the woman who made it.

A Piece Made by Hand

Ecuadorian Essence sells Anana collars as handmade pieces, which means small variations in stitches and colors make each one unique.
Hand embroidery takes time and patience. That is what makes it different from machine embroidery: it carries the identity of a real person and a real place.
No two Anana collars are exactly alike, and that difference is the signature of the artisan who made each one.

Why Choose Handmade

Ecuadorian Essence offers handmade accessories as an alternative to mass-produced fashion, because a hand-embroidered piece is made slowly and designed to last.
Buying a hand-embroidered piece supports the continuation of a living tradition and the work of the artisans who keep it alive. When someone asks where it comes from, the answer is a real place in the Andes of Ecuador.

The Stitches of Zuleta

Anana collars are made with the techniques of Zuleta embroidery, a craft known for five characteristic stitches that the artisans master over years of practice.
The embroidery of the community grew through women who learned the craft at the Hacienda Zuleta, and its original designs and colors have been renewed over time. Today, the artisans draw their own patterns, transfer them to the fabric and embroider them stitch by stitch, keeping a tradition alive while giving it their personal style.

For Boutiques, Museum Shops & Concept Stores

Ecuadorian Essence supplies hand-embroidered collars from Zuleta at wholesale pricing to boutiques, museum shops and concept stores in the DMV, offering authentic Ecuadorian craftsmanship with traceable origin.
Complete the “Become a Distributor” form or write to sales@ecuadorianessence.com. Ecuadorian Essence ships within the United States, with delivery in 5–7 business days.