The Andean regions of South America have a rather harsh climate. It’s often cold and windy there. That’s why the local indigenous people traditionally wear hand-woven clothes made from alpaca, llama, or sheep wool. One of such pieces of folk clothing is the chullo hat – a unique and funny hat with earflaps and bright woven patterns covering the whole surface of a hat. They seem very modern-looking, though these headdresses have been used by Peruvians, Bolivians, Chileans, and other South American peoples for centuries.
A chullo or chullu is a traditional hat with earflaps typical for the Andean Mountains. They are usually made from alpaca, llama, vicuna, or sheep wool – this hat has to be warm and cozy to protect the head from the cold and wind. The earflaps that are tied under the chin are perfect for keeping the ears and cheeks warm as well. A chullo can be equipped with short earflaps that just hang down (often, they’re adorned with tassels or pom-pons) or they can be longer and with 2 cords used to tie the hat under the chin. In most cases, the top of a chullo is also embellished with a single or several tassels or pom-pons.
But no matter what the style and design of a chullo are, it is always beautifully and brightly decorated with woven patterns. The whole surface of a hat is covered with symbols, ornamentation, multicolored stripes, etc. Among the most popular traditional symbols are alpacas, lizards, birds, rhomboids, repetitive waves, abstract designs, etc. This headpiece must be colorful and bright to match the other Andean traditional garments. Andean folk clothes always look eye-catching, multicolored, and noticeable.
Peruvian man wearing beautiful chullo hat with 2 pom-pons on the earflaps and 4 large pom-pons on the long tip of the hat
A chullo hat is one of those items of clothing that are very popular even today, in the 21st century. Lots of tourists buy them and wear in daily life because this hat is so comfy and cute. But a chullo originates from at least several centuries ago. Peruvian historians think that a chullo hat appeared in the period when Spanish colonizers came to the Andean region. The Spaniards brought their fashionable clothing styles to South America, and the mix of Spanish and Andean cultures probably created this lovely traditional hat.
