DETAILS:

• MATERIAL: ACRYLIC. ARTISANS BUY THEIR THREADS FROM ONLY TWO COMPANIES IN LA GUAJIRA; HILOS DE BOGOTA AND MIRATEX. THESE TWO COMPANIES ONLY OFFER ACRCLIC THREAD. THIS ENSURES THE DURABILITY OF THE BAGS ALONG WITH THE BAGS BEING ABLE TO KEEP THEIR VIBRANT COLOURS.

• CARE: GENTLE HANDWASH

• DIMENSIONS: LENGTH 31 CM X WIDTH 31 CM X HEIGHT 30 CM

• HAND CRAFTED IN LA GUAJIRA, COLOMBIA

Nicknamed “the people of the sun, sand and wind” the Wayuu (pronounced Wah-You) are indigenous Latin Americans who inhabit the desert peninsula of La Guajira, near the borders of Colombia and Venezuela. In their small settlements, the women of the Wayuu tribes create these exquisite crochet works known as Mochila Bags. Using traditional skills handed down from mother to daughter for generations, the Wayuu patterns describe their clans, their culture, their dreams and details of their daily lives. This means that no two Wayuu bags are alike, as unique as the weavers who have created them.

A popular Wayuu saying is “ to be a women is to know how to weave” Weaving is highly respected within the community and is a symbol of intelligence, wisdom and creativity.

The Wayuu tribes of La Guajira have endured a complex history surviving challenging circumstances. Their new hope for economic survival, could rest on the handcrafts that have been handed down through the generations. These beautiful Mochila Bags are not only a vibrant, contemporary accessory but they also offer a much-needed lifeline preserving not just cultural skills and traditions but also supplying vital financial support for the women of the Wayuu.