I'm selling these beautiful mochilas

Want to stand out and make a fashion statement? 

Then read on. 

"Mochila" is a word uncommonly used in Colombian Spanish. It means bag, but not just any bag. A particular one that comes to mind: a handcrafted one that's full of details and has a woven strap around it. 

Three months ago, I partnered with one of my brother's friends, Silvana Mejia. Silvi, (or Bibi, as her friends call her) started a project during the pandemic where she started working with a Rancheria (small community of 20ish families) in La Guajira (department/state in the northernmost part of Colombia). 

La Guajira is a hidden desert, a paradise of nature that interlaces the best of the sea with the rareness of the dry desert ground: sand that carries generations on generations of ethnic and indigenous tradition. Many of my friends have been to La Guajira on school trips. 

Some of them have been there on summer camps, and some volunteering with children and impoverished families in Manaure, Rioacha or Uribia. I have been part of fundraising efforts to help alleviate poverty, especially tackling the devastating effects of drought  and malnourishment. 

I've been to Palomino, surfing and kayaking where the river meets the sea. I've gone tubing from Minca, high up the mountain, to end up eating shrimp ceviche at the bottom. There's Cabo de la Vela, where the wind makes kitesurfing epic. Punta Gallinas is one of the most (if not the most) northern part of South America. Its the tip of our stretched out continental surface. And its full of dunes and exotic beaches. 

The peace and quiet also finds the brave and bold. There's five main indigenous groups in the region: The Wayuus, the Kinqui, the Ika, the Kogui and the Wiwa peoples.

Now more about the Wayuus: These are the people who craft the Mochilas you'll see if you scroll down a little. They're also called "Guajiros", as they represent about 38% of the population of La Guajira. Its a binational group, given as there's around 255,000 members in Venezuela– and 185,000 in Colombia. 

They speak Wayuunaiki, a beautiful tongue that fights to be preserved. La Guajira is beautiful, yes. But it's home to El Cerrejón, an open pit coal mine: largest of its type in South America, and 10th largest in the world. The appeal of this energy source has given rise to resource exploitation... a significant source of income, but a drought-inducing activity that prejudices the local population. In Manaure they mine for Salt. 

In the midst of political and environmental problems, cultural tradition stands strong. Wayuu artisans create mochilas out of natural fibers, and weave them by hand. Its a process that takes days to complete, because they're filled with intricate patters and elaborate designs of multiple colors. 

We still have a long way to work towards women and economic empowerment relating to this business: Making it fair trade and keeping it traditional, creating dialogue against cultural appropriation, and striking a balance between the commercial potential and cultural roots of the project. 

Wearing a handbag is a way of recognizing their art, and a way of giving their culture a voice. I'm selling handbags because sure, it can give me a little additional pocket money to save towards something useful for myself. But it can also help the Wayuu be seen somewhere far like Atlanta.