Mochila Cumare

The Koreguaje indigenous community is located in the Department of Caquetá in southern Colombia. This community is characterized by the good technical handling that they give to the Cumare fiber and particularly in the elaboration of the thread and the dyeing with natural dyes of this material.
The women lead this ancient practice of handicrafts that has been passed down from generation to generation and with this they seek economic income to improve their quality of life and avoid deforestation of the rainforest through sustainable practices.
The heart of the chambira or cumare palm that grows in the middle of a forest is cut with great care, then fibers are obtained that give them strength and durability and are the basis of their work.
The colors used to decorate each backpack come from vegetable dyes that come from bark, leaves or ashes. For example, yellow is obtained from saffron; purple, brown and blue from bananillo bark; black and red from curivaca, mixed with ashes.