Weaving an Empire: Textiles of the Inka World

Through December 23, 2026

In the 15th century, the Inka built one of the world’s largest empires, rapidly expanding beyond the Cuzco Valley to occupy much of South America’s western region. Weaving an Empire displays rarely exhibited garments from the diverse communities under Inka rule who dressed to reflect allegiance to the empire and their own local styles and traditions.

Weaving an Empire is accompanied by a gallery guide (PDF).

About the Exhibition

Weaving an Empire: Textiles of the Inka World introduces the significance of textiles in the Andean world through nearly 50 examples from the Inka state and the diverse cultures under its rule. A rare surviving woman’s wrap dress from the Chuqibamba region near Peru’s southern coast reflects a regional tradition that remained distinct from Inka style. Examples of textile styles reserved for the Inka elite include an exceptional tunic featuring the classic “Inka key” design composed of diagonal lines and squares in contrasting colors on top and horizontal stripes on the bottom.

To help visitors understand how these textiles were worn, the exhibition displays two mannequins dressed in reconstructions of men’s and women’s garments, created by museum staff, as well as illustrations of authentic drawings from the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen.

Accompanying artworks — including “khipus,” bundles of knotted and colored cords used to record numerical and narrative information, and a pair of painted drinking vessels known as “keros” — offer further insight into ancient Andean culture.