What are Arhuaco bags made from?

Cotton and fique (a cactus fibre) are the traditional materials used in bag making, however since the introduction of sheep to the Americas, wool has become an important additional material. Most of the wool is shorn, cleaned, spun and dyed by hand, however it has recently become common to use some commercially available wool and cotton acquired from nearby regional centres. Most materials, however, continue to be prepared using traditional techniques, and bags take at least one month to complete.