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Whereas visiting a good friend in December in Bogotá, Colombia, Camila Tirado noticed individuals carrying Wayúu luggage – colourful, hand-crocheted luggage woven by an indigenous tribe who reside in an space of ​​Colombia and Venezuela referred to as La Guajira.

The second-year Syracuse College pupil had no thought the journey would see her beginning her personal enterprise in January. Tirado, initially from Tijuana, Mexico, is now the founding father of Wayúu Luggage Store, a small enterprise the place she sells Wayúu luggage for round $ 50.

“I purchased 15 (luggage), and introduced them with me (to Mexico), and so they bought like sizzling bread within the US and Mexico,” Tirado stated.

Tirado’s good friend, Sofía Castaño, who lives in Bogotá, acted as an middleman to acquire the luggage. Castaño receives the luggage from Adelaida Bouriyu Jusayu, a Wayúu girl she met on a visit she made to La Guajira 5 years in the past. She then ships the luggage to the USA for Tirado to promote.

To ensure that the luggage to succeed in Tirado, they should make two journeys: one from the La Guajira area to Bogotá after which from Bogotá to the USA Though that is the shortest route, the bag’s journey from the Wayúu tribe in Castaño remains to be distant as a result of the realm is poor and authorities businesses aren’t reaching this space, Castaño stated.

Castaño is comfortable to assist Tirado by serving as an middleman in Colombia and getting the luggage. The murals of the Wayúu individuals, which takes a very long time to create, is acknowledged, Castaño stated.

“I really feel that Colombian artwork is exported and I assist the world see who the Wayúu are and what they do,” Castaño stated.

The making of the luggage takes time for the members of the Wayúu tribe, and it usually takes them a couple of month to weave a single full-size bag. By buying authentic Wayúu luggage, prospects assist Wayúu girls discover financial stability, Castaño stated.

For now, prospects can try the bag catalog on Tirado’s Instagram web page. They’ll then inform him the luggage they need by direct message and pay for them through Venmo, Paypal or in money. Tirado stated she’s going to quickly be transferring her enterprise to an internet retailer.

Wayúu luggage are woven by an indigenous tribe referred to as Wayuu, who reside in a area of Colombia and Venezuela. Chenze Chen | Employees photographer

Tirado aspires to proceed to develop her enterprise and develop her product portfolio to incorporate different merchandise made by the Wayúu girls, similar to canine collars and hammocks. She additionally hopes to convey the individuals of Wayúu nearer to the enterprise by giving them a proportion of the income.

“Whenever you purchase a Wayúu bag, you’re carrying the historical past of the Wayúu neighborhood,” Tirado stated.

Posted on March 15, 2021 at 9:34 p.m.

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