B4. 11 H x 16 D -6 lbs.
Hand woven by the Wounan women from the Choco region of Colombia. For numerous reasons underprivileged and impoverished indigenous artisans living in the Choco' region, their arts and crafts serve as a primary source of economic stability and for the survival of their cultural heritage.
While women weave the baskets, men usually find the Werregue fiber, which is obtained from palm trees with thorny trunks. The sprouts are removed to extract strips that are later turned into strands. Due to the unique construction methods used for werregue baskets, it takes weeks, and up to several months for an artisan to make each basket. Each is a work of art and no two are alike. Werregue handicrafts have been widely accepted in national and international markets by virtue of their beauty, elegance, ingenuity and positive impact that each product makes in the life of an indigenous artisan. The natural inks used to colour the baskets and plates, as well as the fibers are obtained according to environmental guidelines. Amongst them pigments obtained from the Annato seeds, with their orange, reddish and tones of the juice of Jagua (genipa americana) fruit is used as a black dye. Also, through the Association of Indigenous workers Wounan-Embera the sales of the product are Fair trade and benefits their community.
