In Cuenca, Ecuador, women wear a pollera as a way to show empowerment and strength being an indigenous woman. It shows the colorful, bright, and the culture that Ecuador comes from. The pollera is made out of different velvet and wool. Towards the bottom of the skirt is the intricate embroidery of flowers and objects. That is done by hand by women and can take months to make. The pollera is like every other skirt just that it's long and heavier. A pollera is worn on regular days, special occasions, and danza folklorico. I have a pollera from when I was little by my grandma that was hand made by her. A Pollera makes me feel very fulfilled and happy because I can wear my country and represent another piece of clothing that has a greater meaning in people's lives. This object shows a huge part of my identity by showing one of the pieces to my hobby. Danza Folklorico is a traditional dance group that performs dances from all over Ecuador's cities that tells the story of the Mountains and the sun. The pollera is a piece of clothing that is used everyday like pants or shirts in Ecuador. It passed down generations until my parents came to the United States and slowly stopped using them. I decided to keep this culture clothing going to show how proud I am of Ecuador. 

– S.O.

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