The Macana, or Paños de Gualaceo is a traditional shawl worn by women in Ecuador's Azuay province. This fine cotton shawl features a light blue background adorned with darker blue floral and geometric motifs created using the ikat dyeing technique with indigo. Its warp fringes (el fleco) are knotted and enhanced with needlework that displays roses, lions, and geometric designs. The tassels at the ends of the shawl are dyed light pink, uncommon in comparison to the usual white. This piece is likely an heirloom piece, and the fringe may have been reinforced or taken from another paño. In the past, threads made of black sisal (agave americano latino) were used to tie the ikat design on the cotton warp. The tying and dyeing of the ikat warp were done by women while the warping and weaving were done by men. Originally, the weaving was done on a backstrap loom with a circular warp.
