Arhuaca mochila
Handcrafted bags from the Indigenous Arhuaca community.
About the project
Arhuaca mochilas are traditional bags handmade by Indigenous women of the Arhuaco community in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada.
Alongside their practical use, they have deep cultural and spiritual meaning. The patterns woven into each bag tell stories about nature, the elements and Arhuaco life. They reflect knowledge and values passed down through generations within the community.
For Arhuaca women, making mochilas is more than a craft: it is often their only source of income. By selling the bags, they support their families and the Arhuaca community.
Our project supports the women’s craft by helping them sell their unique mochilas at fair prices. For many Arhuaca women, these bags are their only way to earn an income and provide for their families. By buying a mochila, you contribute directly to the women’s economic independence, strengthen their rights and support the Indigenous Arhuaca community.
The women who make our bags
Luceli
Luceli is 25 years old and the mother of two children, Juan and Alan. She lives in Pozo Caimán, an Arhuaca village an hour’s walk uphill from Palomino. She began weaving her first bag at the age of 7 and continues this tradition today.
Alongside weaving, she works in a shop near her village selling community products such as cocoa, necklaces, handicrafts and bags. Through her work in the shop, Luceli also helps other women in the community sell their bags and better provide for their families.
Milena
Milena is a young Indigenous woman from the Kogi community of Sevillaca. A mother and teacher, she teaches children traditional weaving and dreams of becoming a community health worker one day. She has learned first aid and places great value on education.
As an artisan, she makes mochilas from various materials, including natural fibres. Through her work, she seeks to preserve her culture’s traditional patterns.
Milena’s children attend the Selvatorium school. All proceeds from the sale of her bags go to the school project.
Rosalia
Rosalía is the mother of five children and lives in a village 3 hours’ walk uphill from Palomino. She makes mochilas and produces cocoa and chocolate.
Her dream is to support Indigenous women in the Sierra Nevada in preserving their traditions. She also values her children’s education and the spiritual work of the Mamos in her community.
Rosalía’s children attend the Selvatorium school. All proceeds from the sale of her bags go to the school project.