Fill out your data to get our latest news and publications








    The story of artisan behind the mochila bag in Colombia

    Have you ever bought Colombian mochila bag? If your answer was “not yet”, you will love the story inside handcrafts made by members of different indigenous communities in Colombia.

    Get to know the Colombian mochila bag activity through Indira

    Indira Mendiola Montero is one of the 30.000 artisans of the mochila bag of the country. She lives in San Juan, an indigenous shelter just an hour away from Valledupar, in the region of Cesar. There, it’s located a small group of Colombian artisans of handcrafts (195 artisans in total), according to the last Statistical Information System of Crafts Activity.

    Artisans in Colombia

    Department of Colombia Artisans
    Boyacá 1.988
    Atlántico 1.964
    Bolívar 1.825
    Nariño 1.750
    Tolima 1.588

    *By Artesanías de Colombia

    San Juan, located on the eastern south side of The Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, is the home of the Kankuamos, the indigenous community which name means “guardians of the world’s balance”. Also, to the indigenous people that Indira, a creator of Colombian mochila bag, belongs to.

    Indira is married and has three children, all of them are men. Being a woman in the community has an important cultural activity value, as the authentic creator of the handcrafts. For 30 years she has been dedicated to this work, almost half of her life weaving the symbolism of the Kankuamos community.

    How is the Kankuamos crafts activity

    Artisans of a Wayuu mochila bag | Colombia Country Brand

    An artisan of Wayuu bags in Colombia.

    First, you need to know that inside the community women and men have a different role referring to the mochila bag activity. Men help women in the first part of the handcrafts process, especially with the transformation of the raw material. In this case, the natural fiber that comes from the Maguey leaf, mostly known as “fique”.

    Every morning, before the sun starts to rise, they scrape the blade with a woody knife called “macana”. Then, a new part of the process starts. Already in the afternoon, women’s crafters begin to weave every thread creating backpacks according to Colombian culture and traditions, such as the “mochila bag”, one of Colombia’s most symbolic handcrafts. 

    After this, there’s the final and the most inspirational part: spin the “fique” and create the design. Indira call this as the “dream behind the handcrafts” because it’s the moment when they transfer their cultural identity, knowledge, and personal thoughts.

    Weaving is like a personal journal. Means a moment, a thought, a feeling, the female crafters energy.

    How many crafts activities and techniques exist in Colombia?

    Around 22 crafts activities and 50 artisanal techniques, such as: basket, weave, pottery, ceramics, leather goods, woodworking, garrison, binding, structured volumes, carpentry, cabinet, lutheria, work in glass, stonework, goldsmith, silverware, jewelry, work on nuts, work on seeds and beads, cerería and jabonería.

    How many types of handcrafts exist in Colombia?

    Discover the history and the technique of the Wayuu mochila bag | Colombia Country Brand

    Variety of Wayuu mochila bag

    According to Artesanías de Colombia there are three types of crafts:

    • Traditional handcrafts 

    It is made by artisans specialized in the production of useful and decoration objects. This activity is a profession which has been transmitted from generation to generation.

    • Ethnic handcrafts 

    It is considered as a material expression of culture within communities. They produce useful and decoration objects, that are also rituals.

    • Contemporary handcrafts 

    It refers to innovative products resulting from the ability to transform raw materials and implement co-design processes with artisan communities. This is the mochila bag activity that Indira does with Colombian brands such as Mola Sasa.

    Discover Mola Sasa, Colombian mochila bag and crafts accesories

    Indira has been working with Mola Sasa for two years, creating unique handcrafted pieces and transferring their traditional art, symbols, and handcrafts into a variety of handmade accessories like Mola Sasa’s Cylinder Bags and Maguey Earrings.

    Mola Sasa, Colombian mochila bags | Colombia Country Brand

    Mola Sasa’s Cylinder Bags.

    Working with Colombian artisans is an honor. We work with four indigenous communities of the country: Kuna, Afro communities, Kankuamo, and Zenú. We empower artisans, we love creating a relationship with them, building confidence and respect every day. Because we want to highlight their skills and their personal stories with every handcrafts collection”, mentioned Yasmin Sabet, the founder and designer of Mola Sasa.

    Mola Sasa, Colombian handcrafted accessories | Colombia Country Brand

    Mola Sasa’s handcrafted accessories.

    Discover #TheBestofColombia behind the stories of each craft, that vibrates with its colors, textures, and designs. It’s time to know the diversity of the Colombian culture.

    Related articles: 

    Colombia’s most original gifts
    Five places to visit if you want to learn about Colombia’s indigenous culture
    Eight Colombian products that are setting trends across the globe

    4.7/5 - (4 votes)
    Artículos recomendados
    colombian trees

    Five trees that support Colombia’s stunning biodiversity

    Trees are Colombia’s most important plant. They provide us with oxygen, stabilize our soil, absorb our carbon and shelter and...
    Colombian souvenirs

    Colombia’s Top Five Souvenirs

    Nothing beats an amazing vacation, which is why it’s always a good idea to bring home a piece of your...
    Colombian rum, colombia's world beating rum, colombian drinks

    Colombia’s World Beating Rum

    Colombia is a country of many identities and its palm-fringed, sultry salsa, colonial-cobbled Caribbean coastal vibe is one of its...
    carmen de viboral, ráquira, ceramics, wayuu, zenu, weaving, guacamayas, roll-weaving, basketwork, filigree, mompos, gifts, souvenirs, colombia

    Colombia’s most original gifts

    Most visitors to Colombia return home with armfuls of coffee and clinking bottles of aguardiente, not to mention a cuddly...
    news outlets Colombia, The City Paper, The Bogota Post, Colombia Reports, Colombia Calling

    Five news outlets telling the world about Colombia

    Colombia.co is your essential guide to getting to know Colombia – with advice on everything from food, music and festivals...
    Libraries, Library, Architecture, Literature, Colombian libraries

    Five Colombian libraries that have their own story to tell

    Bogotá loves to live up to its “Athens of Latin America” reputation and it bustles with universities, museums, art galleries...
    Carnival, Barranquilla, Barranquilla's Carnival, Party, Colombia, Music

    Your Guide to the Barranquilla Carnival

    Barranquilla’s world famous carnival is a joyous celebration of everything it means to be Colombian, with dancing, music and parades...
    Museo Botero

    Five museums every tourist should visit in Colombia

    These are some of the museums that save some of the most important art pieces.
    Festival of the Flowers, Flower Fair, Medellin, Flowers, Silleteros, Tourism

    Medellín’s Flower Festival: a pageant full of tradition

    Every year during the first days of August, Medellín is filled with flowers and parties for one of the most...
    Holidays in Colombia, Holidays, Vacations, Rest

    Holidays in Colombia

    Colombia knows how to celebrate. Boasting 18 national holidays per year, Colombia is among the countries with the most official...