Monguarte

Mongua, perched at an elevation of 9,760 feet (2,975m) as the second-highest town in the province of Sugamuxi, is a place where tradition and innovation beautifully converge. Monguarte is a cooperative dedicated to handwoven textiles that strives to preserve and promote traditional techniques, creating distinctive, quality products that reflect the rich culture and creativity of Mongua’s artisans.

Monguarte’s masterfully crafted textiles include , a traditional garment of the region of Boyacá and much of Colombia. However the origins of the ruana in South American culture is often disputed. Some historians believe that the word “ruana” originated from the Spanish colonists, who used word meaning “ragged” to belittle the indigenous people’s culture. It is likely though that the word comes from the Muisca indigenous people themselves, in whose language the word means “Land of Blankets”. While both theories are possible, it is certain that the ruana has been a part of Colombian culture since roughly the 15th century.

Today, it is not uncommon to see many people in especially the smaller towns of Boyacá going about their day-to-day life wearing a ruana.