The Wichi Tribe

The Wichi tribe in Northern Argentina use a fibrous plant called Chaguar to construct bags and clothing. While the men gather the plant, it's the women who dye, spin, and join the fibers into distinctive textures which form a major part of their cultural identity.

This fiber is very durable and is dyed using natural dyes (found in plants, vegetables, and flowers) or simply left in their natural off white color. The process of gathering these fibers include soaking the plant overnight, beating the leaves with an iron rod to separate the fibers and remove the pulp. After this, the fine fibers can be spun together into thread and can then be weaved into various textiles and designs.