art## Fibra de croá

In each raw material that the caatinga offers, resides the history of our people. Also known as coroá, caruá, coroatá, its name in Tupi (kará wã) means stem with thorns. For every piece that exists, the process behind it starts with collection. “Going to the field,” bringing the fiber, treating, drying, preparing the thread, braiding. Beyond being a beautiful process, the most important aspect is that it sustains communities throughout the Brazilian hinterland. From the district of Pindoguaba, in the municipality of Tianguá, in the Serra da Ibiapaba, comes the Croá fiber and the artisanal knowledge in our collections.

The Making

The first process is to collect the best leaves. The plant is not completely removed, only pruned in a sustainable manner, and within a year, the leaves have regrown and are ready for another harvest. Then, a kind of moist pulp that fills the leaf is removed with the help of a knife and other improvised tools until the leaf becomes very pliable and shredded. It is then set to dry in the sun for a few days and transforms into a type of rustic twine. From this, the pieces are created, organizing these threads in various ways, either manually or on a loom.

A Map of Meanings

Croá: Croá is how the caroá plant is called in the Tianguá region. It is a type of bromeliad with few leaves, with red or pink flowers. Its name comes from the Tupi word kara wã, which means stem with thorns.

Loom: A structure or machine used in weaving to interlace warp and weft threads, creating fabrics, patterns, and textures.

Where We Work with Fibra de croá