Mochila Bags: What a Mochila Is, Where It Comes From, and How to Wear One

A mochila bag is a soft, rounded shoulder bag with an open top and a long strap, rooted in the woven bags of Colombia’s Indigenous peoples; mochila is the everyday Colombian word for a bag of this kind. Designer versions in silk, feathers and glass are now made in Colombia by houses such as Johanna Ortiz. Shop the shoulder and crossbody bags edit.

In much of the Spanish speaking world, mochila simply means backpack. In Colombia it means something specific: a bucket shaped bag carried on a long strap across the body, closed with a drawstring, and often woven by hand. That is the bag this guide is about.

Where the mochila comes from

The best known mochilas are made by the Wayuu people of La Guajira, on the Caribbean coast where Colombia meets Venezuela, who crochet them in brightly coloured geometric patterns. In the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Arhuaco people weave mochilas in natural wool and cotton tones. These bags are cultural objects first, and when you buy a traditional mochila it is worth buying it from a source that works directly with the communities who make them.

Traditional and designer mochilas compared

The Johanna Ortiz mochilas

The Cali house reinterprets the shape in evening materials for Fall Winter 2026. None of these are made by Wayuu and Arhuaco artisans: they are Johanna Ortiz designs, produced in Colombia.

1. Johanna Ortiz Mystic Sparkles Mochila

100% silk in black, with an adjustable drop that moves from a close crossbody to a longer, looser hang. The rounded form keeps the outline soft. The house suggests wearing it over a blazer.

2. Johanna Ortiz Verdant Spell Mochila in Black and Metallic Gray

60% silk, 30% glass and 10% feathers. The feathers and glass give it a light, tactile surface.

3. Johanna Ortiz Verdant Spell Mochila in Burgundy and Red

The same construction in deep jewel tones, with a feather and glass trim that shimmers as it moves.

For more beaded and embellished evening bags, see our beaded bags guide.

How to wear a mochila

• Across the body. Shorten the drop so the bag sits at the hip. It is the most practical way to carry one, and it keeps hands free at a party.
• Over tailoring. A silk mochila over a blazer, as the house suggests, softens a sharp jacket.
• With a print. A solid black mochila anchors a botanical print dress such as the Johanna Ortiz Parajes Lejanos Dress in Ecru and Black.
• Not under a cape. A long strap pulls a cape out of line; see capes for women.

Mochilas around the world

Colombia. The mochila is everyday wear, carried by everyone. United States and Europe. Woven mochilas are a summer bag; silk and feather mochilas, like the Johanna Ortiz pieces, carry the shape into evening. The Gulf. An embellished silk mochila is a softer alternative to a hard clutch at evening events. For more Colombian design, read the new Colombian designers to know.

Frequently asked questions

What is a mochila bag?

A mochila bag is a soft, rounded shoulder bag with an open top and a long strap, rooted in the hand woven bags of Colombia’s Indigenous peoples, such as the Wayuu and the Arhuaco.

What does mochila mean?

In most Spanish speaking countries mochila means backpack. In Colombia it describes a bucket shaped shoulder bag carried on a long strap.

Are Johanna Ortiz mochilas made by the Wayuu?

No. The Johanna Ortiz mochilas are the house’s own designs in silk, glass and feathers, made in Colombia as listed on each product page.

How do you clean a silk mochila?

Dry clean only, as the Johanna Ortiz care label states. Do not bleach and do not machine wash.