Las Tejedoras
Una bolsa menos, una tortuga mas!
Las Tejedoras, or "The Weavers", is a collective of 17 women artists who transform plastic bags into artworks and fashion accessories.
The coastal areas of Nicaragua have a systemic issue with plastic waste, which poses a threat to marine life, especially sea turtles. The work of Las Tejedoras protects the ocean and generates income for the local community.
In 2018, Casa Congo formed a partnership with Las Tejedoras focused on launching their products worldwide and increase their impact.
Watch the trailer of our documentary film.
So far we have…
Upcycled over 50,000 plastic bags
Produced over 40 artworks
Provided employment to 17 women
Supported over 200 indirect beneficiaries
Co-funded the construction of 21 bamboo homes
Funded the construction of 2 turtle nurseries
Awarded 10 scholarships
Las Tejedoras mission is to protect the ocean and create economic opportunities in the community of El Astillero.
By setting an example of waste upcycling, their goal is also to educate. Since 2007, Las Tejedoras have grown from a collective of 10 women to 17 women and the collection has evolved from 5 basic items to over 50 different fashion and interior design products.
A key partner of this program is Rockflower, the global venture philantrhopy fund focused on women’s empowerement programs , who has supported Casa Congo and Las Tejedoras since 2017 with seed funding and mentorship.
Casa Congo’s main objective is to empower Las Tejedoras to run their own design social enterprise to achieve economic independence and continue in their environmental conservation efforts. From setting up logistics partnerships to developing an ecommerce platform with a new product catalogue, Casa Congo is actively promoting Las Tejedoras works in Nicaragua and all over the world.
El Astillero, the village where Las Tejedoras live and work, has a daily average income of $3 / family with many people living in conditions of poverty. The income from purchasing Las Tejedoras art is split 50% for the 17 Tejedoras, 40% for Casa Congo and 10% for logistics and overhead. The women use their 50% to cover household expenses, invest in their children’s education and support their extended families. Casa Congo uses its 40% to fund local community projects, such as bamboo social housing, or conservation education for the local kids.
“We are artists, entrepreneurs and mothers who are proud to protect our oceans and create a better future for our children.”
Senelia del Socorro Vargas Sevilla