Coexistence, to share a territory with beings that have seen it come to life. Bamboleira is Chocó. A brand that values the origins that define traditions of the Pacific coast of Colombia.
Bamboleira creates jewelry inspired by the Wounnan, an indigenous and artisan community that have inhabited the banks of San Juan river in the Pacific for five centuries. Expert weavers and beholders of immense and ancient knowledge of nature and its magical potential.
The brand, founded in 2015 by Natalia Sánchez, aims to support Colombian talent as well as to give a voice to artisans that hold within years of traditions. Unique pieces are created in collaboration with Wounnan women to express their authenticity and pass it by to the women wearing them.
In their creation process Chocó is in the center, being one of the most biodiverse rainforests in the world, with more than eight thousand species of plants that can only be found in this territory. One of them, the Werregue palm, rough on the outside but kind in the inside, this palm is the raw material used by the Wounnan community to make their crafts and seized by Bamboleira to enhance each of their creations.
The Wounnan believe in the myth of Jai, the god of the Werregue palm and say that he created this sacred plant to supply its people with the materials to create eternal pieces that talk about their customs. Bamboleira has embarked on a path with them to create jewelry that respect their unhurried process, where they connect with their gods and let their hands lead the way.
The art of slow.
Collect. First, they immerse into the rainforest for an entire day to collect the leaves of Werregue, then they separate and organize the materials and hand it to the women in the community. Create. When the leaves are ready, they separate the palm into thin threads that are used to weave each piece. Color. These pieces are known for their colorful motives, dyed by hand in a slow wood fire with materials supplied by nature, saffron yellow, dark orange Achiote and green deep Puchicama leaves.
Sánchez identifies with the mastery of handmade work and lives by the words of the Wounnan, “having a Werregue palm piece of jewelry is caring sacred protection”. Harmony and rhythm combine to forge spiral tight pieces that sum the collections of this brand, they create illusions. Bamboleira aspires to keep weaving and connecting Colombia’s essence with the world and to revolutionize the fashion industry, by giving a voice to those who started it all.
By Daniela García G
