

Craft Poncho: Sherry (Man or Woman)
Handcraft wool Ponchos, made in Grazalema woolen mill, keeping traditional technicals.
Composition: 100% Pure Merino wool from Spain
Large 70" width: 51"
Handmade fringes. Wool natural colors (no sintetic).
No one knows the exact date of the beginning of the textile industry in Grazalema, some historians based on ancient writings or their own intuition point to the sixteenth or seventeenth century. Interestingly, the similarity between the wooden looms used in North Africa and those used, until recently, in Grazalema has been noted, so it may have developed under the Arabs, when Grazalema as known as Ben - Zulema.
In the C18 and C19 Grazalema was a good purveyor of wool blankets and ponchos. Given that it has one of the highest rainfalls in Spain this must has been an advantage in the development of the industry as most of the mills of this epoc were water powered. The present, and last remaining mill, in Grazalema is now powered by electricity but many of the old skills and technical processes are preserved. For instance , teasels are still collected which are made by hand.
For decades the most cherished wedding gift for the newly betrothed was a Grazalema wool Blanket. However, in the early days transport through these rugged sierras was a constant problem. Wool ponchos and blankets have to be delivered by mule train, and the muleteers had to contend with not only the weather, but highway robbery. No doubt the famous bandit , Jose María el Tempranillo (whose exploits are currently re-enacted in the village in early October) had a good selection of Grazalema blankets long before his wedding night.
The range of good has expanded but the family, now counting the 4 th generation, are justifiable proud of the quality of their products which visitors now buy and take to the four corners of the Earth.
Yvonne P. published the 06/03/2023 following an order made on 26/02/2023
Très belle qualité absolument parfaut
Anonymous A. published the 07/08/2016 following an order made on 02/08/2016
Precioso y de gran calidad