La Joya Tagua: Eco-Friendly Jewelry Made by Colombian Artisans
by georgina arias ávila
The designer travels to Colombia every New Year’s Eve and teaches jewelry-making to women in person. She promotes the craft at various events in Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Using the seeds of the Tagua palm tree, a group of women, survivor, of the Colombian guerrillas, create eco-friendly jewelry, including necklaces, bracelets, and backpacks. La Joya Tagua, owned by Sully Morris, sells these products in Anchorage.
Sully is a Colombian fashion designer who has lived in Anchorage for six years.
I worked for a nonprofit organization and traveled to rural areas to teach women displaced by guerrillas in Colombia how to make handmade jewelry. When that project ended, La Joya Tagua was born,” said Sully.
Morris received a scholarship for young entrepreneurs from Latin America and the Caribbean in 2016 during the Obama administration. “I was selected for my social impact business and gained the tools to grow La Joya Tagua, value my creative work, and pay women a fair price.” Sully was attracted to viewing the Northern Lights, so she traveled to Alaska, where she met her future husband, Chris Morris, in Fairbanks. They married in 2020. “He’s my volunteer who helps me with the business,” she said.
The designer travels to Colombia every New Year’s Eve to teach women how to make jewelry in person. She promotes the craft at various events in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and other locations. This is the fourth year she’s showcased her work at the Alaska State Fair, with successful sales.
“My clients learn about colors and seeds. They don’t just buy the products; they like to learn about Colombian culture and practice their Spanish.”
La Joya Tagua products can be purchased online on etsy.com. They are also sold at Bell’s Nursery and in the Portfolio store. “I love Anchorage; I don’t see myself anywhere else. I encourage the Latino community to start a business, overcome fear, and continue to educate themselves,” she concluded.
