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- Higinia Gonzalez
Higinia Gonzalez
"I am proud to be a Boruca woman. I work on the traditional backstrap loom to weave handbags and accessories. <br><br>
"When I was ten, we took a course in school about education for the home. There, we had a teacher who taught us to weave on the backstrap loom, which is a total process from spinning the cotton, warping the loom, weaving the fabric and even dyeing the threads with natural colors. <br><br>
"This is when I began to create an infinity of things. It was hard at first because I didn't have the necessary tools but, little by little, I was able to attain them with the money from the weavings I sold. <br><br>
"I got married at a young age but this wasn't a reason to stop weaving. Really, more than a source of income, it was a space in my mind where I could set my creativity free, fill my soul and feel at peace. This has been an essential part of my life, and it's something of our own region and identity. <br><br>
"As time went by, I gained experience and improved my technique. I have seven wonderful children ? four girls and three boys. I've taught them some of the traditions of our region since they were small. Today, two of my daughters have mastered the art and they help me with my weavings. Another daughter helps me organize our work and sales, and she's my right hand, working beside me all the time. <br><br>
"I'm fortunate to have inherited some land from my father. This is where we get the materials for our natural dyes. We use roots, leaves, bark and clay as well as other organic materials. This is a very special and unique process, and we can obtain an endless range of tonalities. <br><br>
"This is my world and I love the idea of being able to share it with you. It's part of a story I like to tell. It's about the traditions I'd like to preserve and transmit to the new generations who also form a part of this beautiful culture that distinguishes us as Borucas."
