All Punch Needle

These elaborate clutches and accessories are handcrafted by Wayuu artisans Rafa Uriana and Juana Arpushana in Riohacha, La Guajira, Colombia, using a vibrant textile technique called punch needling or tapizando. This method uses a specialized punch needle tool to thread yarn through fabric, forming soft loops on the back and flat, textured stitches on the front. The result is a vivid, tactile surface that allows for intricate, expressive imagery, even on the small canvas of a coin purse or clutch.

The punch needle technique, as practiced by the Wayuu, is more than just a craft, it's storytelling. Even if the designs are traditional or more modern, the bold colors and patterns reflect their creativity, often inspired by nature, dreams, and daily life in the desert peninsula they call home.

Each clutch or accessory is a functional piece of wearable heritage, crafted under ethical practices that support Wayuu artisans and help preserve one of Abya Yala's (Latin America) most iconic textile traditions.