As soon as I saw these
Yosuzi hats I imagined Carrie Bradshaw wearing one as she traipsed around the West Village. Beautifully colored and handmade in Venezuela, these hats are not only a statement piece but charitable. A portion of each sale goes to a non-profit dedicated to the health, clothing and education of Indian children.
Born and raised in Venezuela, Yosuzi, which means “cactus flower” in
the Guajiro native dialect, spent her childhood immersed in the
traditional ceremonies, stories and artisanal crafts of her ancestral
Guajiro heritage. Stories of her Great Grandfather, Chief Yajaira, and
of her Grandmother, Flor Emmanuel, winner of the first Miss Venezuela
competition in 1946, instilled in Yosuzi a strong emotional tie to her
native roots.
The hats are made of 100% Iraka Palm Straw, harvested from the Iraka
Palm, and finished with whimsical, handwoven trimmings. Each hat takes
about eight hours to weave. Made with a diagonal weaving technique
unique to the tribe, the hats’ patterns and symbols represent the
spiritual wisdom of Yosuzi’s ancestors.
