---
node: fashion_sa_archaic
type: fashion
slug: archaic_period_south_america_fashion
title: "Fashion in the Archaic period"
lead: "In the Archaic period cotton was grown early on the Andean coast, and the first textiles — made by twisting yarn — appeared; the great Andean textile tradition begins here."
published: 2026-07-28
updated: 2026-07-28
change: "Created as a fashion sub-page under the history section (south_america region)"
requester: internal
reason: "Per the owner's decision, fashion lives under each history era"
---

## Overview

In this age of settlement, fishing and farming, textile-making developed early in the Andes.

## Key garments and style

Coastal sites such as Huaca Prieta record cotton textiles from around 4000 BC. Twined and looped techniques made loincloths, simple garments and bags, with shell and bone for ornament.

## Transition

In the Early Andean civilisations, this craft flowered into the fine embroidered textiles of Paracas.