---
title: "Cumbi"
description: "Cumbi is the finest cloth of the Inka Empire, tapestry-woven from high-grade camelid fiber under state control and worn by those the state favored."
type: Glossary
url: https://teazle.art/glossary/cumbi
published: 2026-10-14
updated: 2026-10-14
author: "The Teazle editors"
---

# Cumbi

*Cumbi is the finest cloth of the Inka Empire, tapestry-woven from high-grade camelid fiber under state control and worn by those the state favored.*

Cumbi (also qompi) is the finest category of Inka cloth. The Met's essay on Andean textiles describes it as woven from high-grade alpaca fiber, with state officials closely controlling its production, use and design, and only a designated few permitted to wear it.

## Who wove it?

Sources differ. The Met says a select group of female and male weavers worked in residential centers and outposts across the empire. The Cleveland Museum of Art names women of noble families, professional weavers and the [aclla](https://teazle.art/glossary/aclla.md), and the National Gallery of Australia's exhibition notes name male cumbicamayos for checkerboard tunics.

## How was cloth graded?

A secondary summary (World History Encyclopedia) lists chusi, awasqa and qompi grades; treat that scheme as provisional until checked against John Murra and Ann Pollard Rowe. Fine cumbi became [unku](https://teazle.art/glossary/unku.md) and other garments given as state gifts.


## Sources

1. [Andean Textiles](https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/andean-textiles). The Metropolitan Museum of Art
2. [Tunic, c. 1400–1540 (1957.136)](https://clevelandart.org/art/1957.136). The Cleveland Museum of Art
3. [Inca Textiles](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/791/inca-textiles/). World History Encyclopedia

Canonical: https://teazle.art/glossary/cumbi