Sustainable Weaving?

Whilst researching, diagramming and analyzing objects used by the Wayuu, we became particularly interested in their predominant use of cotton, and its production in the larger scale. We then explored and compared three natural fibers: cotton, jute and rattan.

Our research sparked an interest for us both in a potential way for the Wayuu to engage in a sustainable approach to their tradition of weaving.

Weaving and Material Studies

 

Although we applied the same weaving technique of weft woven through a warp, each material required unique processes and had distinct final qualities.

Rattan in particular, required the most labor and space, yet it had stronger structural properties in comparison to cotton and jute.  

Diagram of Objects in Space in the Wayuu Community

Diagram of World Cotton Trade and Production Process

It is important to look at the trade of cotton at the global scale. Columbia is the 34^TH largest producer of cotton in the world, exporting 0.1 million bales annually. Although some Colombian cotton is exported to Peru, most is processed internally.

The major cotton exporters are the USA, Franc Zone, Uzbekistan, Australia and India.

This comparison of three natural fibers illustrates their distinct production processes.Cotton and jute require shorter cultivation (between 4 and 7 months), however they both need a large amount of manufacturing in order to arrive at their final product. Rattan takes far longer to cultivate (between 6 and 7 years) but can be processed entirely by hand.

Matrix of Natural Fibers

Three distinct materials are analyzed through five separate phases, from the scale of  global trade to the material's tectonics.