Veronica83 · Public domainPirí hats and karanda'y palm weaving
Karanda'y
Hats, bags, fire fans and baskets braided from the leaves of the karanda'y palm.
What it is
Karanda'y palm leaves are cut, dried and braided into strips that are then stitched into hats — the classic wide-brimmed pirí, perfect against the summer sun — as well as bags, fans for fanning the fire, placemats and baskets. It is the main craft in Limpio and is also practiced in Luque and Emboscada. Light, inexpensive and very Paraguayan.
History
Limpio was granted town status on February 1, 1785, as San José de los Campos Limpios de Tapuá, although Franciscans led by Friar Luis de Bolaños had already settled the area in the 16th century.
Did you know…?
The karanda'y (Copernicia alba) forms vast palm groves in the Chaco and the south of the country; its trunk was used for generations in rural buildings.
Where to buy
Family workshops and stalls in Limpio, about 20 km from Asunción. Pirí hats are also sold in Asunción's markets, such as Mercado 4.