Gran Tierra Energy recognizes the importance of strengthening relations with Indigenous communities living in areas near GTE’s operations. With this in mind, Gran Tierra in partnership with the World Corporation for Women in Colombia (CMMC) created the Hilos de la Tierra (Threads of the Earth) program, which aims to recover ancestral practices through the creation of handcrafted designs using recycled materials as well as innovate with new materials and techniques in design.
In the Putumayo, the program works with artisans and ethnic women’s groups using natural fibers, dyes, seeds and recycled goods to help facilitate the recovery of ancestral practices. In the Middle Magdalena Valley, the program works with vulnerable women dedicated to fashion. The project is aimed at improving the incomes of participants and addresses gender bias in traditional family dynamics with women making up 90% of the participants in 2024.
The handcrafted products reflect the culture, traditional practices, and history from local Indigenous, Afro-Caribbean and rural communities. In 2024, 58% of participants of the program were of Afro-Colombian and Indigenous descent. These traditional artisans preserve their culture through their handcrafted artifacts and share stories about their lived experiences and their territories as a way to inform and educate others.
Gran Tierra’s Hilos de la Tierra program made its return to Expoartesanías 2024, an event that provides our artisans and designers of Putumayo and the Middle Magdalena Valley to join together to present their handcrafted designs. Hilos de la Tierra generated over USD$30,000 in sales alone at this year’s Expoartesanías, with all proceeds benefiting more than 150 artisans from Putumayo, Cesar and Santander. These earnings were made possible by travelling within Colombia to feature their products at various commercial events. The success of these efforts highlights the growing demand for artisanal products and the ongoing support for local entrepreneurs.
In 2023, through this program, participants and renowned Colombian designer Juan Pablo Socarrás, took centre stage on the runway during North America’s third-largest fashion show, Vancouver Fashion Week 2023 to showcase a clothing collection they collaborated on. Three of the artisans were sponsored by GTE to travel to Vancouver, Canada, to participate in the entire fashion week experience. The artisans prepared for the show with Socarrás and his team, observed their work on a major international runway, and connected with international sellers following the show.
Image Gallery
Image Gallery
