Mochila: A Tradition of Colombian Manpurses

Why don't men in America use purses? They are practical and men carry just as much as women. It must have something to do with looking unmanly, but in Colombia, men have purses and they still look tough. I will try to explain why.

The Colombian manpurse probably doesn't seem strange here because the country has a long tradition of manpurses (mochilas). Not only that, but also a lot of men use them so it's not like one guy is the odd man out. They also can be stylish as there are many varieties of colors, patterns, and materials; but mainly the traditional version is made out of wool by the ancient Ayuko tribe. These pictures show the trend then and today.

“Made by the Arhuaco tribe of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, high in the mountains of northern Colombia, these hand-woven bags (mochilas) are a spiritual-artisan tradition that goes back well over a thousand years. In order to escape persecution and preserve their traditional way of life, the Arhuaco, Kogi, and other native peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta took refuge in the remote areas of this mountain region.” (http://www.horizonherbs.com/mochilas.html)

The tradition still lives today due to the fact that these native tribes still live in Colombia today as they did since 1,000 A.D. After, the past five centuries, they still trade their artesanias (folk art) and have contact with modern Colombia. You can even take hiking tours through the Sierra Nevada to visit their villages and ancient ruins. In other words, the Colombian manpurse represents a modern fashion trend and a tradition of respect for native people of Colombia. I definitely recommend getting one on your next trip to Colombia. To learn more about the history of the mochila or buy one, visit http://www.horizonherbs.com/mochilas.html.