A mochila is a cross body hand crafted type of bag, with a cylindrical body.
The word is used in many Latin countries to refer to either the hand crafted type or to backpacks.
From this word also comes the word: "mochilero" or "mochilera". Which designates the person that travels the world at low cost with a bag on their backs.
One thread mochilas are the traditional Wayuu mochila bag. These bags are weaved in ways the Wayuu people have made them for generations. Wayuu women use one thread while weaving, knits are then tighter, patterns are a lot more detailed, and they take longer to make: around 20 days. Wayuu women make them for their daily use.
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These mochilas are more rare to find among tourists and in the market.
Two thread mochila bags are the most popular wayuu mochila bag known for tourists all over the world. Its affordability and beauty makes for a great option for many people who want it and are just beginning to know the culture.
​
Wayuu women have developed an alternative technique to their traditional line, in which they use two threads instead of one when they are weaving. Knits are then looser, bags are made faster and they can keep with the growing demand in less time and at less cost.
Two threaded mochilas are the result of tourism. They are made by Wayuu women in an attempt to lower costs and time and meet the demands that tourists made when they ask for bargains. They take less time to make, around 5 days to finish.
We were told that Wayuu women prefer to make one threaded mochila bags, because they are the ones that belong to their tradition.
Have in mind that one-threaded doesn't mean one color. It means that only one thread is weaved at a time. Many colors are used in both one and two threaded mochila bags.
Here is a video we found on the web that explains the difference (imay take while to load):
Yes, but you will still find similarities between mochila bags.
Each mochila bag is handcrafted by a Wayuu woman, in their rancherÃas (where they live), among their family, their land, their kids. Each woman selects the colors she wants to use and the pattern, new or known, she wants to knit. The patters are inspired by their believes and the objects surrounding them, like the pattern a donkey leaves on the sand, or the object where their pots are hanging from. This alone gives the possibility of thousands of color combinations and patterns used.
However, the uniqueness does not come only from the colors of the threads chosen or how they are knitted in a particular pattern, but from the woman herself, and her surroundings. Wayuu women know that they are not constant and static, but ever changing like a river. They know that their energy, their moods, their desires, their points of view and understandings of life change, and so does the energy they put into the work they do.
This is what truly makes each mochila bag a unique piece of art even if they have similar colors, or even if they use similar patterns; because like the saying goes one cannot step into a same river twice no Wayuu woman makes the same mochila twice.
Still, similar colors will be found, similar combinations, and similar patterns used.
According to our research from ArtesanÃas de Colombia:
Marüliunaya, like the pattern made on artisanal milking pots called totumos. Totumos are fruit shells, cut in half, used as pots. (Bags: AQUA, CORAL)
Molokonoutaya is described as the shell of the morrocoy turtle. (Bags: CAKE FROST, MELONADE)
Ule’sia which is described as clean. (Bags: CORAL, SUNRISE)
Kanasü, the spider's net. Wale'kerü according to the Wayuu tradition is the spider that taught them how to weave. The pattern represents Wale'kerü's net. (PINK SPIDER)
Pulikerüüya like the donkey vulva (SUNRISE).
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You can also email me to mymochilatrip@gmail.com, or fill in the contact form:
A mochila is a cross body hand crafted type of bag, with a cylindrical body.
The word is used in many Latin countries to refer to either the hand crafted type or to backpacks.
From this word also comes the word: "mochilero" or "mochilera". Which designates the person that travels the world at low cost with a bag on their backs.
One thread mochilas are the traditional Wayuu mochila bag. These bags are weaved in ways the Wayuu people have made them for generations. Wayuu women use one thread while weaving, knits are then tighter, patterns are a lot more detailed, and they take longer to make: around 20 days. Wayuu women make them for their daily use.
​
These mochilas are more rare to find among tourists and in the market.
Two thread mochila bags are the most popular wayuu mochila bag known for tourists all over the world. Its affordability and beauty makes for a great option for many people who want it and are just beginning to know the culture.
​
Wayuu women have developed an alternative technique to their traditional line, in which they use two threads instead of one when they are weaving. Knits are then looser, bags are made faster and they can keep with the growing demand in less time and at less cost.
Two threaded mochilas are the result of tourism. They are made by Wayuu women in an attempt to lower costs and time and meet the demands that tourists made when they ask for bargains. They take less time to make, around 5 days to finish.
We were told that Wayuu women prefer to make one threaded mochila bags, because they are the ones that belong to their tradition.
Have in mind that one-threaded doesn't mean one color. It means that only one thread is weaved at a time. Many colors are used in both one and two threaded mochila bags.
Here is a video we found on the web that explains the difference (imay take while to load):
Yes, but you will still find similarities between mochila bags.
Each mochila bag is handcrafted by a Wayuu woman, in their rancherÃas (where they live), among their family, their land, their kids. Each woman selects the colors she wants to use and the pattern, new or known, she wants to knit. The patters are inspired by their believes and the objects surrounding them, like the pattern a donkey leaves on the sand, or the object where their pots are hanging from. This alone gives the possibility of thousands of color combinations and patterns used.
However, the uniqueness does not come only from the colors of the threads chosen or how they are knitted in a particular pattern, but from the woman herself, and her surroundings. Wayuu women know that they are not constant and static, but ever changing like a river. They know that their energy, their moods, their desires, their points of view and understandings of life change, and so does the energy they put into the work they do.
This is what truly makes each mochila bag a unique piece of art even if they have similar colors, or even if they use similar patterns; because like the saying goes one cannot step into a same river twice no Wayuu woman makes the same mochila twice.
Still, similar colors will be found, similar combinations, and similar patterns used.
Absolutely!
Write to me and we will set up a short session (15 min. top) for you to appreciate it, and have a better feeling on the mochila.
Email me to: mymochilatrip@gmail.com
According to our research from ArtesanÃas de Colombia:
Marüliunaya, like the pattern made on artisanal milking pots called totumos. Totumos are fruit shells, cut in half, used as pots. (Bags: AQUA, CORAL)
Molokonoutaya is described as the shell of the morrocoy turtle. (Bags: CAKE FROST, MELONADE)
Ule’sia which is described as clean. (Bags: CORAL, SUNRISE)
Kanasü, the spider's net. Wale'kerü according to the Wayuu tradition is the spider that taught them how to weave. The pattern represents Wale'kerü's net. (PINK SPIDER)
Pulikerüüya like the donkey vulva (SUNRISE).
Yes.
We had made madre selva satchels to protect your mochila bag. Madre selva is an eco textile made 100% of cotton, and they can be painted and personalized by you.