Straw & Mochila Bags

Don't be fooled: these are not your typical straw bags. Our straw bags and mochilas are different. They are a product of refined artisan weaving. Of traditions that mothers have passed to their daughters for centuries. Made from natural materials, they are a perfect sustainable addition to your style. These bags never saw a modern assembly line. They are one-in-a-kind, made by hand - the slow way.

Wayuu artisan weaving threads for mochila bag

ACCESSORIES THAT GIVE HOPE

Weaving and kitting play a central role in Wayuu culture. Mothers pass the craft to their daughters during a girl's coming of age ritual. But it is more than a simple ceremony. It is part of what prepares a girl to lead this matriarchal society.

Every clan has its own patterns that reflect its environment and life. Wayuu mythology and legends inspire their geometric designs. Nobody knows when the Wayuu started weaving. What is sure, is that it has been part of their culture for centuries. Over generations, they have refined and perfected their techniques. Their iconic totes and straw bags are a testimony to their culture and skills.

The Wayuu make their straw bags from Iraka palm. The plant is native to Northern Colombia. The men of the Wayuu walk miles to harvest the straw from native trees. For centuries, the Wayuu have used oil-based dyes to paint the straw. Our collection relies on the same non-toxic dyes today.

But these bags do not only make a perfect sustainable option. There is little employment in the rural area the Wayuu call their home. Malnutrition of children is common in this region.
Making these totes and bags provides the Wayuu with an income. It helps them to feed their families while preserving their culture. All by making beautiful, unique and eco-friendly bags that are a fantastic addition to any style.

Wayuu artisan holds a sign 'I made your bag' . Fashion Revolution campaign / fair wages.

THE WAYUU WEAVERS

The artisans from the Wayuu are behind our straw bag and mochila collection. The Wayuu are an indigenous people from South America. They are known as the people of sun, sand, and wind.

A remote and rural corner of Northern Colombia is what they call home. There is little access to infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Many Wayuu live off subsistence agriculture. Only few have access to potable and running water. Reaching small town centers requires hour-long journeys by foot. Persistent drought over the last decade has taken its toll on people and land. Many Wayuu rely on government assistance to cover essentials.

​Weaving provides them with an income in this area where other employment is scarce. It allows them to leverage a skill they have honed for centuries. To follow in the path of their ancestors while feeding their children. And to build a future filled with hope instead of poverty.

MEET THE ARTISANS
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    ARTISAN JEWELRY

    Our handmade jewelry is adjustable and bends into any shape for you. And that's not where the GOOD part ends: this jewelry is handmade by women from underserved communities in Egypt.

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