A brand committed to extreme conditions
Located in northern Colombia, the La Guajira Desert is made up of impressive landscapes and a unique ecosystem in the world. It is also the territory of the Wayuus, the largest Native American community in Colombia.
What does La Guajira look like?
In the department of La Guajira, we find two extremes. The abundant, very humid nature of the jungle of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta to the south, and the extreme dryness of the La Guajira desert to the north.
We are heading to the north, where the Wayuus weavers with whom we collaborate live.
Difficult climatic conditions have long made this territory difficult to access for tourism, but little by little it is opening up to the world. Wind, sea and sand intersect to form spectacular landscapes. The sand dunes flow directly into the blue Caribbean water. It is reached by 4X4 via barely marked roads and by driving between the cacti. The best known villages are Cabo de la Vela, sacred place of Wayuu culture, and Punta Gallinas, the northernmost point in South America.
Working with the Wayuus means facing unusual arid landscapes where the traditions of this people are strongly present.
So who are the Wayuus?
L a Guajira is a department very different from the rest of the country and the Wayuu have been fighting for centuries to preserve their independence, their traditions and their way of life.
They live a simple lifestyle that is very different from what we are used to.
While some live in the department's towns, many still reside in isolated communities deep in the desert. Each community has its leader who is responsible for organizing the village. To be able to work with the women of the community it is necessary to have the agreement of the leader.
Families live in rancherias : mud and straw huts in which hammocks and basic necessities are placed.
In addition to these rancherias, each village has a common living space to organize events, welcome visitors or simply use it to meet with each other.
Wayuu beliefs revolve around Mareiwa, mother nature, considered the creator of life and the personification of feminine protection. It is a matriarchal society, which means that it is through women that the family name is transmitted, as well as the territory.
The Wayuus have managed to maintain their own language, Wayuunaki, which is still widely practiced and is very different from Spanish. It’s a foundation of their identity that sometimes makes working at Mazonia complex. To overcome the language barrier, Ketty, a Wayuu artisan, is responsible for monitoring Mazonia's production in the field.
