Behind the Weave

At Mundo Treasures, we travel to the heart of Colombia to work directly with artisans who keep centuries-old traditions alive. Our treasures come from two towns where weaving is a way of life. In Usiacurí, Atlántico and Tuchín, Córdoba — crafted at home by artisans across generations, this art is the lifeblood of these communities.

Iraca Palm
Usiacuri, Atlantico

Carludovica palmata is a stemless perennial plant with large fan-shaped leaves growing directly from the ground up to 1.20 meters tall.

Cultural & Artisanal Importance

Iraca weaving forms the economic base for thousands of rural families and artisan cooperatives.

From Plant to Fiber

Artisans harvest the closed young shoots (cogollos) of the plant to extract the fiber. The production process involves:

  • The Ripia: Leaves are shredded manually into thin, uniform threads using specialized needles.
  • Bleaching & Drying: The threads are boiled in large pots and then sun-dried for several hours to achieve their characteristic natural off-white color.
Cana Flecha
Tuchin, Cordoba

Gynerium sagittatum is a perennial grass native to tropical America. It grows up to 5 meters tall in the humid wetlands of Colombia's Caribbean coast.

Cultural & Artisanal Importance

This plant is the economic and cultural backbone of the indigenous Zenú community. The ancestral traditions of cultivating, processing, and weaving its fibers are recognized by UNESCO as part of Colombia's Intangible Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Development.

From Plant to Fiber

Artisans harvest the leaves and use traditional scraping techniques to extract thin, flexible, and durable vegetable fibers. The fibers undergo a complex natural dyeing process:

  • Natural Tones: Some fibers are kept in their original white-ochre state.
  • Black Tones: Other fibers are submerged in iron-rich mud and boiled with local plants (like bija or dividivi) to achieve a deep, permanent black.

Every thread carries a story — woven by hand, rooted in land.

Behind the Weave

Curated for modern elegance, honoring ancient hands.