Kick off 2016 with vibrant and colorful textile accessories in your wardrobe. Hilo Sagrado has launched its exclusive collection of crocheted backpacks, clutches, and decorative items, carefully customized by members of the Wayúu indigenous community, located in the La Guajira region in the northeast of the Colombian peninsula.
The online gallery of products showcases the cultural roots behind each creation. Each piece is a continuation of ancestral techniques passed down for generations and reflects the strong ties between their beliefs and weaving traditions. All accessories are carefully handwoven, and the process can take up to a month, resulting in some of the highest quality Wayuu products available on the market.
This collection took place in December 2015 at Expoartesanías, one of the most important international exhibitions of traditional and contemporary crafts held annually in Colombia. Eighty Wayúu artisans, along with members of Hilo Sagrado, participated in a team effort that included training programs, international mentoring, and individual coaching prior to the event. The resulting event attracted more than 88,000 national and international buyers, attracting the work and passion that went into each item, with outstanding results for both the community and the organization.
Hilo Sagrado is a social enterprise and member of the Ethical Fashion Forum that seeks to rescue the cultural heritage of communities in Latin America by empowering women entrepreneurs through training and modernizing production centers to develop sustainable textile production. Since 2013, Hilo Sagrado has promoted ethical trade with a sustainable and inclusive model that pursues greater socioeconomic well-being.
Author: Adriana Villalba