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The Gran Chaco region is known to have the finest weavings in America, outside of the Andes area. The variety of procedures used for fabricating them is incredible.

Caraguatá Fiber Weavings: Bags (Yica, Clisá) Hammocks (schaatí)

The material used for the weavings is from a bromeliad species called caraguatá. The leaves of this plant are gathered in the countryside and the fiber is extracted from them. Afterwards the fiber is placed in the sun to dry and whiten.

Once the fiber has dried, it can now be made into thread. The woman takes two strands of caraguatá and rolls them across her thigh towards her knee, forming two fine threads. As she rolls the thread back they intertwine forming one strong thread. Once she has a strong thread she passes it through a bath of natural dyes, made of boiled leaves, roots, vines or resin. Sometimes ash is added to the dye to help it bind to the thread. To obtain strong colors the threads must be dyed several times, a process that can take the entire day.

Colors:

• Red, Maroon - Made from the root of the Curupay plant.
• Black, Grey, dark maroon - Made from the sap of the carob tree
• Gray, Violet - Made for the Guayacan fruit
• Dark red - Made from the roots of the Aromita or Tusca plant

Wool weaving - belts and blankets

The material, sheep wool, comes from their own animals. The preparation of the wool is a basic process: the wool is cleaned and spun on a bobbin and is then dyed to ensure that the dark colors do not contrast with the lighter colors.

The same natural dyes are used for wool as the dyes used for caraguatá. Some women, however, prefer to use chemical dyes because it creates stronger colors and is less expensive.

Each Nivaclé woman uses her own traditional styles in each piece. Along with traditional styles, the woman invents her own designs. This mix of traditional and individual design ensures that each piece is different and cannot be copied.