Bolivia
Early 20th century
Wood, cotton, wool, embroidery, sequins, coins, metallic thread
The distinctive headwear worn by Yampara men and women from Tarabuco, a town in southern Bolivia, reflects their (often troubled) history, such as the region’s conquest by the Inca Empire in the 1400s and then by Spanish colonists in the mid-1500s. Nevertheless, the Tarabuqueños have maintained a strong sense of identity, and wear their traditional dress to signal pride in their culture.