Weaving Zuncho

This basket was woven by an artisan named Orlando, who came from Huila seeking his fortune in Bogotá. He discovered an urban material like plastic strapping tape used for closing boxes and realized it had characteristics similar to the natural fibers traditionally woven in his region. Through an experimental process, he wove a basket from the strapping tape, which became his and his family's livelihood. Over time, this basket evolved into the traditional style we know today: colorful and highly durable, replicated by many artisans in the markets of Bogotá and other cities across the country.

In 2016, we participated in a fair with our ceramic products, and shortly before the commercial event began, we decided to buy some plastic strapping tape baskets at the Plaza del 7 de Agosto so that our customers could carry their products. I had always been drawn to them because of their colorful appearance and the irony of urban plastic woven using traditional weaving techniques. To our surprise, more baskets were sold than ceramics! The out-of-context object acquired a completely different value and transitioned from being a way to transport food and coffee flasks to a fashionable beach bag or purse.

Today LIANA works with 3 groups of artisans in Bogotá who transform this material with their hands to create unique objects. We design, experiment, train, and produce items in plastic strapping, filled with added value, for the national and international market.

We all have the capacity and the need to create, and even if we don't realize it, we are always transforming things through our relationships. 

People value objects, and at the same time, objects give value to people; after all, we're not so different.