A
chamanto is a traditional decorative garment from central
Chile, similar to a
poncho and woven in
silk thread and
wool. Its entire contour is
finished with ribbon edging. The difference between a
chamanto
and other ponchos is their reversibility, as both sides —one light,
one dark— are fully finished. Traditionally, the dark side of the
poncho is used during the day, while its light side is mostly worn
at night.
The chamantos gained world notoriety when they
were worn by the 21 leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
during the 2004 summit's official photo.
The making of a chamanto demands great diligence, because
of the exquisiteness involved in the weaving of the silk and wool,
plus the intricacy of the design sketched by crossing the threads.
The figures embellishing the chamantos include copihues
—Chile’s national flower— barley and wheat ears, blackberries,
bunches of grape, fuchsias, pansies and various birds representative
of the national fauna.