Mercedes Salazar
All Mercedes Salazar jewelry and accessories are handmade by Colombian jewelers and artisans.
They work with over 200 artisans from around Colombia to create unique pieces. Through their work, they aim to keep alive the ancestral techniques of Colombia.
Sustainable Technique
Iraca Palm Weaving
In Colombia, the fibers of the iraca palm, also known as toquilla or jipijapa, are harvested and woven by hand into one of the country's richest and most delicate crafts. The palm yields an enormous range of goods, including hats, placemats, napkin rings, purses, and decorative accessories. For many families, the craft has become a sustainable livelihood and a cornerstone of the local economy.
Sustainable Technique
Werregue Palm Weaving
On Colombia's Pacific coast, Wounaan weavers make baskets, trays, jugs, and jewelry from the fibers of the werregue palm. The fibers are washed, dried in the sun until they lose their color, then dyed. They are boiled with natural dyes, dried again, and twisted by hand into twine. The pieces are woven in a spiral, with a long needle wrapping thinner colored fibers around a central cord that forms the core of the piece. The tight weave is strong enough that vessels can carry water. Geometric patterns and figures of animals and plants carry the mythical and religious symbolism of the Wounaan people. Larger baskets can take several months to make.
Sustainable Technique
Jewelrymaking
The specialized, hands-on method used by a skilled craftsperson to manually shape, manipulate, fuse, or finish materials into wearable art. Unlike automated or mass-production manufacturing, it relies heavily on human dexterity, intentional design variations, and the precise control of hand tools or handheld torches, making each finished piece structurally unique and distinct.
Sustainable Technique
Raffia Weaving
Across sub-Saharan Africa, the long, pliable leaves of the raffia palm are stripped into fine, strong fibers, dried in the sun, and often dyed with natural pigments. They are then woven by hand into baskets, mats, hats, and cloth. Patterns are built by plaiting or coiling the fibers, and the designs often carry meaning specific to the community that makes them.
