In the Catatumbo region of Colombia, a small sewing workshop, born from the 2016 peace agreement between the government and FARC rebels, is fostering reconciliation and rebuilding lives. This initiative aims to reintegrate former combatants and heal the deep wounds of conflict.
Ms. Avella, a former fighter, found purpose in this workshop, seeking to rebuild her life after the war. The space offers training, support, and empowerment for women, contributing to the prevention of gender-based violence. Here, they learn new trades, support one another, and regain confidence in a territory long scarred by violence.
Initially, Ms. Avella and other women established ‘Stitches for Peace,’ producing sweatshirts, T-shirts, and uniforms. However, in 2021, the project took an unexpected turn towards the world of high fashion.
An initiative by the UN Verification Mission in Colombia connected Ms. Avella with Lina Garcés, an economist and founder of the second-hand clothing boutique, Lina’s Closet. Garcés, who described her shop as selling “second-chance clothes,” agreed to collaborate, despite personal reservations stemming from her family’s experiences with armed conflict, including a kidnapping.
Garcés traveled to Caño Indio in the Catatumbo jungle, encountering a starkly different environment from her usual fashion circles: basic accommodations, unpaved roads, and communal facilities. Yet, she discovered an unexpected wealth of talent among the women. “The women had an impressive ability,” she recalled. “The one who sewed did it with incredible precision; the one who cut had the pulse of a professional.” Many had honed their sewing skills during the war, mending uniforms and boots, skills now being repurposed to weave a new narrative.
The Ixora Brand: Skirts Symbolizing Resistance and Reconciliation
Over fifteen intensive days, the women collaborated on designs, sizing, and finishing. This period birthed the concept of wraparound skirts featuring prints inspired by the Ixora flower. This resilient plant, blooming year-round in Catatumbo, symbolizes resistance and perseverance in the region.
The collective efforts culminated in the creation of the brand ‘Ixora, inclusive and autonomous.’ By the end of 2021, their inaugural collection was ready and presented at a fashion show in Cúcuta, bringing together conflict victims and peace signatories on the same runway.
During a subsequent event at the Cúcuta Book Fair, Ms. Garcés shared her family’s history publicly for the first time. As she spoke, Ms. Avella listened. Garcés expressed, “For me, today they are sensitive women, who want to move forward. For my part, there was forgiveness; now I want to support them and let more people know their work so that we can live in peace.”
Initially sold through Garcés’s boutique, the Ixora skirts soon attracted interest from other designers. The brand began participating in fashion shows in Tibú, Ocaña, and Bogotá. In 2022, Ixora made its debut at Colombiamoda, Colombia’s premier textile fair, and returned as special guests in 2023 and 2024.
Resurgence of Violence and a Forced Pause
This inspiring narrative of reconciliation, entrepreneurship, and peace was severely impacted in January of the previous year when violence escalated in the region. Mass displacements, murders of social leaders and ex-combatants, and the forced departure of thousands of families disrupted the fragile progress.
The sewing workshop was compelled to close. “The women didn’t want to go back out of fear,” Ms. Avella recounted, emphasizing that protecting lives became the immediate priority.
Paradoxically, amidst this crisis, the news arrived that Ixora had been officially registered as a trademark in Colombia. However, the team chose not to celebrate due to the prevailing uncertainty. “It wasn’t the time,” Ms. Avella stated.
Currently, the project is on an enforced pause. The sewing machines remain in Caño Indio as the women await security guarantees to relocate to a safer space in a rural area of Cúcuta.
Enduring Hope for the Future
Despite these challenges, the story of Ixora continues. The brand has secured a project with the Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization (ARN) to support other women through self-care and psychological assistance programs. This marks a new phase for Ixora, aiming not only to generate income but also to provide a space for well-being for those affected by the conflict.
“This project is a dream,” Ms. Avella shared serenely. “Beyond the economic side, it means keeping our association alive and showing that we can build something different.”
Meanwhile, the women await the opportunity to resume their work. In Catatumbo, a region where many stories face abrupt endings, there is hope that Ixora, much like the resilient flower that gives it its name, will bloom once more, even under the most challenging circumstances.
