We take time to create unique, high-quality products through collaboration between artisans’ craft knowledge and our designer’s understanding of modern timeless design.
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The Studio
inspiration
We live in one of the most diverse countries on the planet! We are constantly inspired by the Colombian mountains, rainforests, caribbean beaches, color-rich colonial towns, and so much more.
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painting
Everything starts with a paint brush. We love the freedom painting gives us, and we treat every textile as if it were a blank canvas. Through this medium we get our initial sketches of our collections.
Material research
We believe that experimenting with new materials and processes is a key to innovative design. We take great care in choosing our materials to meet our environmental values, together with great quality and exceptional design.
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experimentation
At the handloom, we pour our creativity into developing unique patterns rooted in tradition. Here, we transform our watercolor sketches into structural textiles.
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color swatching
After developing our weaving patterns, we apply different color combinations. It’s at this point in the process that our textiles come alive!
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small samples
We take small samples to our workshop and the expert artisans make them into beautiful final products.
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Artisan Workshop
Artisan Collaboration
refine + finalize
We partner with a cooperative of artisans of the Santander region of Colombia who are experts in spinning, dyeing and weaving cotton; women artisans in Boyacá, Guacamaya famous for the traditional craft of coil basket weaving; and a small artisan family in Curiti who are preserving the art of vertical loom weaving with natural fique fiber.
The artisans take the small samples and provide suggestions for improvement. Then, collectively we make final decisions on the designs to create a finished product.
Our textiles would not be anything without the expertise of our artisan partners. This part is truly the heart and soul of Zuahaza, as we come and work together as Colombian sisters to create unique treasures for your home.
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Spinning
The ancient craft of spinning is sometimes overlooked, but is crucial to the whole textile process. With the use of simple or complex technologies, artisans turn the collected cotton into fine yarn for weaving.
Our artisan partners handspin all of our cotton, and it can take up to a week to make only 1 pound of cotton yarn. Most of our spinners work from home and spin cotton in between their daily tasks as mothers and artisans.
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Preparing The Loom
This is probably the longest and most detail oriented part of the whole process. Prepping the loom can take 14 hours on a medium size loom and up to 3 full days on larger ones. This is the skeleton or foundation of the whole weaving process, where the length, width and design of the fabric is sequenced.
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Weaving
This is the heartbeat of the artisan workshop. Each textile is handwoven by one of the talented artisans who have learned these skills from previous generations.
On the footloom, the weaving process varies from design but it involves using your arms and feet to operate the loom, and your fingers to work on the delicate details of our designs.
On a vertical loom, it also requires hand-eye coordination and strong attention to detail. Baskets woven by hand are created one at a time, wrapping and coiling thread by thread.
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From our workshop to your home.
sewing
Although this is the last step, is as important as the other steps. Here, our most skilled sewers and detailed artisans take the fabrics and make them into finished pillows, rugs and blankets.
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finishing
As experts in macrame and knotting techniques, our artisans add the final touches to our blankets and rugs. It is at this stage that we make sure each product is in its best condition before sending it to your home.
HANDMADE // HECHO A MANO
Shop Collections.
