Woven handbag from a Women's Art Collective in Argentina. Please call 707-341-3410 to select a colorway from this limited run. Chaguar Wichí Chumtés, commonly known as Chaguar, is a bromeliad-type plant with sword-shaped evergreen leaves, resembling yucca. They grow only in the semi-shade of a middle layer of the Chaco forest, and reproduce through "runners," little baby plants that grow along the roots that anchor the rapidly desertifying forest. This material and the techniques for creating the chaguar fabric are centuries old and exclusive to this region. Because the chaguar plant does not grow well where the groups now live, they travel forty-five to seventy-five kilometers to the east two times a year. Every year they must travel greater distances to gather the chaguar as the Chaco forest is sold off by international companies as private ranches surrounded by electric fences. The entire process is incredibly labor intensive. Just spinning the fibers into thread for a small bag can take fifteen hours! The women harvest enough chaguar for their individual needs with wooden spades or machetes. The leaves are soaked in water to soften, pounded until the fibers are exposed, then washed and hung on branches to dry. Once dry, the fibers are worked into threads by rubbing them together on the thigh. These threads are dyed with natural pigment obtained from forest plants and tree barks, in colors ranging from bright yellow to blue and black. Finally, the dyed threads are woven with a needle or simple hand looms. This hands-on, ancestral process allows these women to create beautiful bags with playful geometric designs. Matriarca Argentina A collective of organizations, designers, and artisans creating a sustainable production model. They work closely with indigenous communities, mainly women, from different regions across Argentina. The brand fuses traditional culture with modern demands in order to create unique, stylish and ethical artisan goods for the home and your wardrobe. Over 2,600 artisan women from different Argentinian communities make up the Matriarca network: Pilagá, Wichí, Qomle'ec, and Qom. Artisan work provides cultural, economic, and social value, as well as being a way to preserve traditions and sustainability. Artisans pass on their ancestral knowledge from generation to generation, preserving various techniques, designs, and ancient natural dyes. Matriarca is a platform that connects Native art with the world.
