Under the banner of “fair trade,” nearly 500 Wichí craftswomen are bringing their creations to the farthest corners of the globe. Thanks to sustained support and the right entrepreneurial guidance, their handmade pieces are now sold in Japan, the United States and Europe. It is a story of resilience and determination that, born in a remote corner of Argentina, deserves to be known.
Every piece crafted by the Niwok artisans carries a strong, unmistakable imprint: that of the Formosa wilderness—unique and unrepeatable, just like them. The dark, aromatic palo santo wood, meticulously carved by Wichí craftswomen, becomes bowls, serving trays, spoons, knives and soap dishes. The rustic fiber known as chaguar, made from local plant leaves, is transformed into tricolor woven baskets, bags, purses, flowers, earrings, shawls in warm orange tones and delicately embroidered pouches. Each object bears the name of its creator: Elvira, Benicia, Elida, Lisaura. The online store also features lightweight knitted sweaters, breezy enough to let the wind pass through, as well as woven keychains shaped like delicate yellow birds and others with rustic hanging beads. But among the catalog’s many items, two stand out: an Argentine cockade and small hand-sewn dolls depicting Wichí mothers carrying their babies.
The value of global sales is significant, representing 40% of total revenue. “Prices are set at the place of origin,” the website emphasizes. Under the principles of fair trade and socially impactful consumption, the Argentine nonprofit Niwok Foundation has successfully opened markets in Brazil, Portugal, the United States, Spain and Japan. What astonishes—and fills the Niwok team with pride—is that since 2016, the products shipped overseas originate from El Potrillo, a small Formosa settlement without electricity or running water.
Located 544 kilometers from the provincial capital, El Potrillo is home to the community of Wichí craftswomen who achieved what once seemed impossible: creating a line of work capable of transcending Argentina’s borders. The effort began in 1982, when an interdisciplinary group came together to assist the inhabitants of the inhospitable Formosa wilderness. Initially, the focus was education. Eventually, they expanded the work to help the Wichí community develop alternative means of livelihood—always honoring their ancestral knowledge. The Niwok Foundation was formally established in 2002 as the natural continuation of this first effort, beginning with only 20 craftswomen.
From the Formosa Wilderness to the World
Today, guided by the Niwok Foundation, 480 women—officially registered in the foundation’s directory—are now empowered to design, produce and sell their handmade creations. And fortunately, the momentum continues: another 200 women are waiting to join this growing initiative, which seeks to expand and thrive over time. Niwok’s Vice President, Lucía Cardini, notes that “60% of the income goes directly to the artisans, and if we received any government subsidies, that percentage would be even higher.” For this reason, the foundation is actively seeking financial support and donations to dream bigger and reach further, as El Potrillo lacks almost everything, most of the time.
Since its inception, the Niwok Foundation has financed every educational and administrative training program for the Wichí community. In close partnership with Indigenous women, it has promoted artisanal craftwork as a path to dignity and empowerment. The foundation has also carried out workshops addressing essential issues such as women’s rights, sexuality, holistic health and substance abuse.
The craftswomen say they are now better versions of themselves—proud to support their families and serve as role models for their children. They are grateful for the Niwok Foundation’s support, not only because it provides vital income but because it preserves Wichí culture. “All our products—everything we make—carry our imprint, our personality, our Wichí identity, which today is deeply marginalized in the country. Working together in the workshop strengthens us; we learn from one another, we feel useful and we support each other,” the artisans say in unison.
They are also proud to know that, in their own way, they are reaching the world. Their woven figures of Wichí mothers carrying their children—self-representations—sell remarkably well abroad, traveling to faraway continents. These pieces come from a forgotten corner of Formosa, yet in distant places their craft is valued, appreciated and perhaps worn with pride by people who recognize the warmth of something handmade, authentic and rooted in an ancestral culture.
