Coiling natural fibers, Omaira Manrique crafts a petite covered basket in the style of Guacamayas. Two shades of blue evoke the lakes in this part of Colombia. They find a rich contrast in brilliant orange.
Made in Colombia
Cabuya fibers, reed grass fibers
For decorative use only
Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
"The driving force behind my mission is a desire to work as a team… the cooperative was created to improve the artisans' quality of life."
"I'm an artisan and, mainly, a person who loves community work – to give my hand and heart to people. "My father was..."I'm an artisan and, mainly, a person who loves community work – to give my hand and heart to people.
"My father was very skillful. He learned the basic technique of coiled baskets in school and essentially taught himself the rest. He began inviting others in our town to learn this craft and keep the tradition alive.
"On the other hand, my mother and grandparents crafted Spanish espadrille sandals with soles of fique fiber, similar to that of the maguey. They also wove fabric for wool bags on a vertical loom. So I received an important artisan legacy and have a wonderful connection with textile techniques.
"Because I grew up in a town with very few businesses, work opportunities were limited. The only way to make a living was selling arts and crafts locally. So I first worked with my cousin. We'd sit under a tree and talk about our lives while we wove placemats that were very popular at that time because of their colors and patterns. Over the years, I had to become more experienced, and this constant search for innovation has been very gratifying.
"When I was a community director, every Monday we'd go out to the rural areas and teach budding artisans how to organize materials, dyeing techniques for the natural fibers they use, and how to calculate costs. We worked for six or seven years in producing six basic products crafted by some 1,700 village residents. During the first years of our cooperative, when we called ourselves the Casa del Telar de Arco, we began with only five families. Today we have more than 400 members working together.
"This has been a marvelous process. I've always enjoyed teaching. The initiative of organizing communities for the common good is something that simply arises within me and it's become a mission in my life.
"The driving force behind my mission is a desire to work as a team. There are a lot of people who didn't believe in our cooperative. They hoped to earn a lot of money in a very short time. But our mission is much larger — the cooperative was created to improve the artisans' quality of life.
"I've learned to be perseverant, and to always listen to that little voice inside that encourages us to continue working to build a better future. The path isn't easy but, today, the results we've had fill me with joy.
"What I really love is to involve myself in absolutely all the processes in this craft. We're always in movement — creating new designs and color combinations, and seeking new strategic alliances. Since 1992, we've offered our basketry in craft fairs such as Expo Artesanías.
"It's been a long road. We have more than 35 years of experience and, thanks to this, we've been recognized by the Chamber of Commerce.
"We had the opportunity to participate in a social responsibility program called 'Searching for Lost Pride.' A number of Colombian artisans participated, and we took Third Place. This brought us an important donation that let us invest more in artisan development and also let us build a house for a woman member of the cooperative who was living in very humble conditions.
"I'm grateful to be able to say that my grand dream has come true. Guacamayas is is finally recognized for its rich natural, cultural and artisan heritage. Today we receive tourists from many parts of the world who want to know more about our art and culture. I'd love for our cooperative to be the best ranking in Colombia, and I'm working toward that dream every day.
"I find so much inspiration in helping others, working as part of the community and giving a hand to others. I'm also involved in my town's Civil Defense, I'm on the Council of Culture, and am a keeper of our patrimony. I'm surrounded by natural wonders like the Paipa-Iza Volcano, Lake Tota and the variety of agriculture we have. I live amid this natural wealth.
"When I'm at home, I like to watch soap operas when I have some free time. My other passion is travel. I try to visit a different place every year and make this a goal. One of my favorite trips was to see the hats made in Montecristi, Ecuador. I saw how they're crafted and also enjoyed Ecuador's cultural diversity.
"I work with some of my family members, For example, Stefanía, one of my daughters, is in charge of everything involved with social media and Internet sales. All my children know how to craft coiled baskets. On the other hand, my mother — Elvira Gomez — still weaves and continues to contribute to our community as an artisan. In recent years, I've looked after the marketing. I reach out to clients, visit craft fairs, place our work in markets, and I also design and develop new basketry.
"I work very hard to improve the quality of life in the homes of Guacamayas, while promoting greater recognition for my town. We've been able to generate more income and jobs in the community. We are growing every day, and our goals grow with us."
Only valid on the Normal shipping option for shipments to 48 Lower US states.
Discounted shipping price may not be applied to previous orders.
This item ships with a free artist storycard, so you can remember who you impacted today. Customized gift messages are also available with every order.
We want you to be 100% satified with your order, so if you are not completely happy with your item, you can return it within 60 days of receiving it.
We pack, ship, certify and 100% guarantee the quality of this item. Watch this video to see how.
This item is available for backorder and will ship within 8 to 12 weeks. Artists love to get backorders. Placing a backorder ensures that the artisan will do their best to create and deliver your item to our local office for shipment.
Although we cannot guarantee availability, we do expect to be able to fill the order within the timeframe indicated. But sometimes life happens - special materials may not be immediately available to the artist, or there might be some other circumstance beyond our control that could delay the shipment.
If for any reason we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will notify you.
In the unlikely even that we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will contact you and provide an updated delivery window.
This item has a special shipping flat fee which means that due to bulk, duties, or other special requirements, the item will be shipped to you via one of our special one-rate services. Shipping is only available to the United States (lower 48 States only).
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
BUST
35 - 36
37 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
WAIST
27 - 28
29 - 30
31 - 33
34 - 36
38 - 40
HIPS
37 - 38
39 - 40
42 - 43
45 - 46
49 - 50
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
CHEST
36 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
50 - 52
WAIST
30 - 32
32 - 34
35 - 37
38 - 41
43 - 45
NECK
14 - 14.5
15 - 15.5
16 - 16.5
17 - 17.5
18 - 18.5
SLEEVE
32.5
33.5
34.5
35.5
36.5
FINDING YOUR SIZE
Take your measurements with the tape measure over your under garments. If your measurements fall between sizes you may prefer the next larger size. Inseam, skirt and dress lengths vary by style and will be listed in the item description. Our sweaters are knit in standard American sizes, however actual measurements vary by style.
BUST / CHEST
Measure around the fullest part of chest under the arms and over the shoulder blades keeping the tape measure level.
WAIST
Measure around the smallest part of the waist keeping the tape measure comfortably loose. Most garments use the low waist measurement noted below.
LOW WAIST
Measure around the body approximately 1.5" below the natural waist (above). This is the area where most pants and skirts actually fit.
HIPS
Standing with your heels together, measure around the fullest part of the body approx 7"-8" below the waist.
NECK
Measure around the base of the neck keeping the tape measure comfortably loose.
SLEEVE
Bend elbow slightly and starting at the center back of the neck, measure across the shoulder, to the elbow and down to the wrist.
INSEAM
Our standard inseam length for women is 32" and 34" for men; however inseam measurements will vary slightly by style.
Belts with buckles are measured in inches that correspond to a waist size however, most people do not wear belts on the waist, they wear them closer to the hips. A buckle belt measurement is take from the end of the "pin" of the buckle to the middle hole on the belt. Generally there are 5 holes for size adjustment, with a 1" space between each, so the middle hole will the be average size of the belt.
For at tie belt (no buckle) measure the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This again is the medium size of the belt.
For a soft fabric tie belt it can be called "1 size fits most" and the entire length of the belt should be measured and listed.
See buckle/tie belt size standards below.
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
inches
26 - 30
28 - 32
31 - 35
34 - 38
38 - 42
cm
76 - 86
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
inches
30 - 34
32 - 36
35 - 39
39 - 43
43 - 47
cm
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
109 - 119
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
Sash tie length
Lay sash/tie out flat away from the garment and measure from end to end.
Belt with buckle
Measure from the end of the pin of the buckle (where it touches the buckle) to the middle hole.
Belt without buckle
Measure from the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This is will give you the medium size of the belt.
Download our printable ring sizing chart to find the perfect fit!
We refer to these items as "discounted wholesale". Such items carry a deeper wholesale discount than other items, and have greater potential to provide your business with healthier resale margins.
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WIN # 1 You Save!
UNICEF Market's artisan-direct prices are made possible through our partnership with NOVICA, a leading fair trade organization that works directly with artisans in remote regions around the world in many of the same communities where UNICEF has missions. NOVICA’s ten global Artisan Empowerment Hubs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America provide interest-free microcredit loans to artisans and help them bring their handmade creations directly to you.
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