Wayúu

As the Wayúu saying goes, “To be a woman is to know how to weave.” The tradition of weaving is highly respected within their matriarchal culture and is a symbol of wisdom, creativity, intelligence and status.

The history of the Wayuu mochila, a colorful, handmade bag woven by the Wayuu tribe of Colombia, can be traced back centuries. Weaving is a central part of Wayuu culture and has been passed down through generations of women as a rite of passage from girlhood to womanhood. Girls learn to weave under the guidance of their mothers and grandmothers, starting with a small bag called the Susu before moving on to the more complex mochila.