Veronica83 · Public domainAo po'i embroidered cotton
Ao po'i
Lightweight loom-woven cotton, hand-embroidered: the cool shirt of the Paraguayan summer.
What it is
Ao po'i means 'fine cloth' in Guaraní. It is a light, breathable cotton fabric that is then worked with embroidery, openwork, drawn-thread work and scalloped edges. It is used for shirts, guayaberas, dresses, tablecloths and the traditional costumes of folk dance. In Yataity, which bills itself as the 'Cradle of Ao Po'i', many families make a living from some stage of the process: spinning, weaving, cutting or embroidering.
History
According to tradition, it emerged during the isolation imposed by Dr. Francia's government (1814–1840), when the lack of imported fabric led women to spin and weave their own cotton. The technique passed from mothers to daughters; since 2021 Yataity has had a Safeguarding School for Authentic Ao Po'i, run by the IPA, with free admission.
Did you know…?
Yataity's Expo Ao Po'i runs for about ten days in December, with fashion shows and artisans' stalls; the 28th edition took place on December 12–21, 2025.
Where to buy
Straight from family workshops and at Yataity's weekend craft fair, a few kilometers from Villarrica and about 165 km from Asunción. The home workshop of artisan Alba Cardozo, part of the IPA's National Crafts Route, welcomes visitors by appointment. In Asunción you'll find it in craft shops: ask for genuine loom-woven cotton.