We are excited to partner with our friend Laurie from Earth Bound, a small non-profit working with communities to preserve weaving in Southern Venezuela to bring a small collection of beautifully handwoven Ye'Kwana Wuwas (baskets) to our store! They are made with a hemi-epiphyte called minñato, a vine-like plant that will re-grow after harvesting, sustainably made and naturally dyed.

Baskets are an essential part of the daily life of the Ye'kwana of Southern Venezuela. Traditional handwoven basketry is an intricate and essential part of daily life for the Ye’kwana people. Living in the lowland tropical forests, men and women harvest plant fibers to weave over 30 distinct functional and ceremonial baskets, each designed for specific use.

A key piece is the wuwa, a large, heavily reinforced burden basket. This style of basket is used for carrying heavy loads such as firewood and cassava (yuca). Women weave the wuwas and decorate them with figures from their traditional stories that explain the world in which they live. The wuwa is capable of carrying 80–90 pounds and is crucial for harvesting firewood and the large yuca root that forms the basis of the Ye’kwana diet. These baskets are smaller, perfect to export to other markets while continuing to retain culture and generate income.