w a y u ú - s u s u

Mochila bags are made by the Wayuú people, a group of indigenous people who live in La Guajira Peninsula in northern Colombia and north west Venezuela. Wayuú people believe that the knowledge of knowing how to weave is a symbol of creativity, intelligence and wisdom, a practice that is past on from one generation to the next. It takes a Guajira woman about 20 eight-hour-days to complete just one bag or 'susu' in the Wayunaiki language. Purchase a Mochila bag through the Wayuu Taya Foundation, a non-profit and non-governmental organization, where all sales will proceed to help cultivate one of the poorest countries in Latin America.

The colors of the Wayuú people have given 'tribe trend' a statement in hobo chic. Now known to the rest of the world and worn by celebrities such as Katy Perry and Shakira, find out how these Mochila bags were first introduced in the fashion scene through this New York Times article.

 Wayuú Mochila Bags for Free People's March 2011 Catalog

Picture credit: Oracle Fox and Free People