Discover the rich narrative woven into every pair of these black and gold Iraca palm earrings. Handcrafted one by one by Colombian artisans, survivors of conflict, these earrings tell a story of resilience and beauty with every detail.
- Intricate iraca palm weaving in a stunning disc design
- Size: 2.5" x 2"
- Material: Iraca Palm, 24 KT gold plated on bronze
- Origin: Handmade with dedication in Cali, Colombia
- Unique: Crafted by Colombian indigenous artisans
Experience the intersection of art and heritage with these earrings, a blend of native Colombian materials and sophisticated design.
design: A round disc of tightly hand-woven black iraca palm forms the body of each earring, crossed by a hammered gold-plated wire that curls into a loose spiral at the center.
size: 2.5" x 2"
material: Iraca palm fiber, gold-plated brass
features: hand-woven palm fiber disc, hammered gold-plated wire spiral overlay, lightweight drop, post closure
care: Keep away from water, perfume, and lotion, and store flat or in a soft pouch so the woven disc keeps its shape.
disclaimer: Because each disc is woven by hand from a natural palm fiber, slight variations in texture and shading are normal and part of the piece's handmade character.
The Story
Iraca palm has long been split into fine strips, dried, and woven by hand across parts of Colombia, most famously into the tightly coiled hats associated with the country's palm-weaving towns. This earring borrows that same radiating, disc-shaped weave, worked here at a small enough scale to hang from an ear rather than sit on a head.
The black-dyed fiber is woven in concentric rounds that spiral out from a central point, a structure that comes directly from the logic of the material: iraca strips are pliable enough to curve tightly but need a repeating, radiating pattern to lie flat and hold together. That same spiral logic is echoed in the gold-plated wire laid across the surface, so the metalwork and the weave are in conversation rather than one simply decorating the other.
Pairing a plant-fiber craft with worked metal is a way of putting two different Colombian material traditions, weaving and metalsmithing, into a single small object, rather than treating either as a finishing touch.
Each disc starts as raw iraca palm, split into thin strips, dried, and dyed black before an artisan coils and stitches it by hand into a tight, flat spiral, the same core technique used to build traditional iraca hats, just scaled down to earring size. Separately, a length of brass wire is hand-hammered to give it a faceted, textured surface, then bent and coiled into a loose spiral before being gold-plated and set onto the woven disc. Because both the weaving and the wirework are done by hand, no two pairs are perfectly identical.
Craft & Materials
- Made In: Colombia
- Craft Tradition: Iraca palm weaving
- Ideal For: Someone who wants a bold, lightweight statement earring with visible handcraft
- Wear It With: Let them anchor a simple outfit, a solid-color top or dress, so the woven texture and gold spiral stand out
- Purpose: everyday statement wear, evening wear, gifting
- Metal: Gold-plated brass
Questions & Answers
What is iraca palm?
Iraca is a palm plant grown in Colombia whose leaves are split into fine strips and woven by hand, a technique traditionally used for hats and now adapted here into a woven earring disc.
Are these earrings heavy?
No. The woven palm fiber disc is naturally lightweight, so despite their size these earrings are comfortable for extended wear.
Will the black color fade or transfer?
The iraca fiber is pre-dyed before weaving. Keep the earrings dry and away from lotions or perfume to help the color and weave hold up over time.
Is the metal part solid gold?
No, the spiral wire is brass that has been gold-plated, not solid gold.
How should I store them?
Store them flat or in a soft pouch, away from moisture, so the woven disc keeps its shape between wears.
