The Chaguar: the ancestral fiber that we weave at Jasinta.
Wichi women picking Chaguar
Knitting time. Blessed hands.
Chaguar is more than a fiber. It's a bridge between cultures, histories, and ancient knowledge. At Jasinta, we collaborate with native weavers from northern Argentina who bring this native plant to life with their hands, time, and ancestral knowledge. We'll tell you why we chose to work with this native plant, woven by ancestral hands, and its historical value:
- What is chaguar?
Chaguares are a group of herbaceous plants with succulent, thorny leaves that conceal a strong, flexible, and lustrous fiber.
This plant, which lives in the semi-arid regions of the Gran Chaco region in northern Argentina and is distinctive to the Wichi culture, is neither cultivated nor planted: it is harvested respecting the rhythm of nature, walking through the forest, as has been done for generations.
For the Wichi people, this plant is of great importance, and Wichi women are responsible for working with it. They are responsible for the entire process, from going out into the "monte" (mountain) to harvest it, then defibering the leaves, spinning them, dyeing them with natural dyes obtained from other plants and flowers in the area, and then weaving them using an ancestral technique that only they know and that is passed down from generation to generation.
The women say that before cutting the chaguar leaves, they ask permission from Siwan'i, a spider with very long, thin legs that weaves its web in a circular shape, forming a cocoon and living among the chaguar plants. The tradition of asking permission is a way of honoring Mother Nature, who creates and provides this plant with which they will make the yarn. With this yarn, they will make various objects such as woven garments, bags (Yicas, in the Wichi language) useful for activities such as hunting and fishing, and even artistic pieces. Each of the chaguar weaving designs has different meanings, representing animals and different elements related to the identity of family clans. Each of these designs bears the imprint of the soul of its creator, making them unique and telling a story.
The chaguar is of utmost cultural importance to the Wichi people. The myth "The Advent of Women" tells us that the first women ascended from heaven to the world of men through braided chaguar ropes. This plant plays a prominent symbolic role in the female initiation rite, in which women begin to spin and weave from adolescence. From childhood, they accompany their mothers and older women to harvest in the forest and learn the processes of spinning, dyeing, and weaving, which they will later use as adults.
- Chaguar at Jasinta: Design with Identity
We incorporate chaguar in handbags, shoe details, and artisanal leather accessories as a way to honor our roots and give visibility to invisible crafts. Every piece of chaguar that reaches your hands has undergone a completely manual process: from the harvesting of the plant, the spinning and natural dyeing, to its integration with the leather selected for our collections.
It is a fusion of signature design, discreet luxury, and indigenous materials.
- Beyond aesthetics: an ethical and sustainable choice
Choosing a piece with chaguar means choosing a handwoven story, a living cultural connection, a tradition, a heritage that perpetuates the memory and identity of an indigenous people who have existed since before Argentina existed, and which at Jasinta we have the great honor of incorporating into our designs, thus honoring our commitment to ethical fashion.
Discover our handcrafted leather pieces with chaguar details. Honor the natural. Wear the authentic. We invite you to discover the collection.
Source:
Association for the Promotion of Culture and Development: apcd.org.ar
Niwok Foundation: fundacionniwok.org