Artesanias de Colombia, Bogota

Artesanias de Colombia is the most popular and promoted Colombian craft brand. There are three shops in Bogota, the main one of which is located next door to Iglesia de las Aguas. Artesanias de Colombia offers a spectacular collection of national crafts, with much attention to quality and style, so you won't find any fast-buy, kitch items you might run into in other such places. The range of products covers everything: national garments and modern clothes with an ethnic twist, pottery, baskets, woodwork, bags, belts, hats, bracelets, handmade jewelery, embroideries and many more. Artesanias de Colombia is going international.

What to buy here: Chamba pottery & Mochilas.

- From a village in the department of Tolima, Chamba is black clay pottery. It is simple, rustic, and elegant. Chamba has even caught the attention of stores like Crate and Barrel, bringing Colombian rustic chic to smart dinner tables everywhere. You can go all out with plates, cute tinto cups and saucers, serving dishes, but maybe just a few soup bowls would do. If you ever happen to be in Bogota in December, an excellent place to go to actually get to know the artisans who make their living creating Chamba pottery is Expoartesanías – the massive handicraft fair at the Corferias fairgrounds. While knick-knack shops do sell chamba ware, it may be best to go to an Artesanías de Colombia store which sells top-quality chamba, although for a higher price. Artesanías de Colombia is, by the way, the organizer of the Expoartesanías event. Made of clay, chamba is of course quite fragile, so take care when packing it in your luggage.

- Mochilas are hand-woven, cotton or woolen handbags, some with very colorful designs. The best are made by the Wayuu Indians and are so sturdy and tightly woven that they claim you can carry water in them. No doubt during your visit to Bogotá you will see students, hipsters and even workers in suits with a mochila slung over their shoulder. As with other handicrafts described here, you can spend a little or a lot on mochilas, with the best quality and most original ones costing upwards of $150. To find these, again it is recommended to visit an Artesanías de Colombia store, or go to the Expoartesanías fair in December, when the indigenous craftspeople converge on Bogota to sell their extraordinary wares. Mostly coming from the Caribbean Coast area these artisans can tell you the significance of the geometric designs of the mochilas and you may even be able to meet the person who wove yours. While you can find cheap mochilas in tourist markets downtown it’s best to go for the quality at Artesanías de Colombia.

Artesanías de Colombia is located at Las Aguas church downtown (their main offices): Carrera 2 No. 18A – 58.