Yawanawá Headband

Handwoven by indigenous artists living along the river Gregorio in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. The designs on our Yawanawá beadwork were created by Hushahu Yawanawá, our co-founder. As Hushahu entered into the Yawanawá spiritual tradition, she began to express her experience through her art. Depicting the visions she received as well as drawing inspiration from the traditional stories of her ancestors.

Today all these forms of beadwork form modern versions of traditional Rauti - sacred decorations that traditionally connect the user to the spirits of the jungle and act as a protection. 

The designs depicted are called Kẽnẽ and each Kẽnẽ brings a connection to different elements, plants or animals of the jungle. Yawanawá cosmology teaches the importance of every being of the natural world and our connection to them. The Kẽnẽ often represent traditionally sacred animals such as the anaconda or the blue morpho butterfly in combination with elements such as water or fire, connecting the user to that energy. 

Our headbands are made from coloured glass beads and strong fishing line, so are made to last even the tough conditions of the rainforest. Each headband is uniquely handwoven and so the size varies. We have included the diameter of each headband here so you can test how it will fit you by wrapping a piece of string of that length around your forehead. 

Your purchase gives back to a Yawanawá family directly, giving them the opportunity to make a living from their ancestral home along the Gregorio river and keeping their culture alive.