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 91% of the participants in 2023.
The handcrafted products reflect the culture, traditional practices, and history from local Indigenous, Afro-Caribbean and rural communities. In 2023, 60% 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.
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.
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