Laxmi

The Emberá Chami believe that women carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. Okamas in the Emberá dialect are a way of adorning and highlighting their strength, beauty and feminine wisdom. The Okama symbolizes “the path” they walk and is full of ancestral wisdom, cosmovision and story.  Crafted from generational weaving techniques.

It takes each artisan from 10 - 30 days to complete highly elaborate pieces using a thread-needle and loom. The combination of colors and shapes are symbolic to their knowledge of the mountains, rivers, sky, animals, people and the unity of all.  We work fair trade with Embera Chami tribe of Colombia, and our mission is to preserve their artistry, and encourage them to thrive!

Features:

Bead work is all made with very strong synthetic thread and glass beads

Symbology in their crafts: 

WHITE: Clouds, Peace

RED: Blood, Race, Soul, Flowers 

BLUE: Sea, River, Sky, Space 

GREEN: Nature, Leaves, Mountains 

YELLOW: Gold, Sun, Happiness

ORANGE: Flowers

PURPLE: Flowers

BROWN: Earth

BLACK: Night

SPIRAL: Path / Road

CURVES: Rivers

CIRCLE: Community, Unity, Integrity

ZIGZAG: Mountain Roads

GEOMETRICAL SHAPES: Pachamama 

DIAMOND: Seasons of Nature