These handicrafts are made by the women of the Pilagá community inhabiting Formosa Region in South America.
Behind a handicraft is long, patient work with ecological, ethnic, and social value.
We recognize that it is not only an object of decoration or use but a true representation of their cultural history, development, and future.
This is Felisa, showing a handbag.
The Fibers
Pilagá craftswomen make baskets mainly from carandillo leaves. They also use totora reeds and other fibers.
They usually have to walk several kilometers into the forest to get the best leaves.
They carry the harvest on their back and hang them out by crossing a piece of fabric all around their head.
Then they hang the fibers outdoors during the drying process.
Notice the harvest on her back.
Dry process by hanging.
The Fiber goods
Our products are handcrafted fibers turned into art by Pilagá artisans.
Notice that each of them differs from the rest, even the ones belonging to the same category, due to the real handcrafting process.
The process is entirely manual, from collecting the fiber and drying to weaving, carried out using ancestral techniques passed down from generation to generation.
Once the leaves have been converted into ribbons or threads, the design of bread baskets, table centerpieces, pot holders, sewing boxes, baskets, handbags, envelopes, wallets, and many other cultural objects that the fiber allows begins.
Every single piece is unique.
That’s the beauty and the distinctive feature of real artisans’ craftwork.
The Pilagá communities are the oldest peoples in the current territory of Formosa, like the Qom and Wichí.Together with the Abipones, Mocovíes, and Qom, they lived from the XVI century – Pilcomayo river in between – in front of what today is the Republic of Paraguay.They are located mainly in the Patiño department, in the …
