Carriel

Culture of Colombia

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A carriel is a small leather satchel from Colombia. They are similar in appearance to a saddlebag but worn over the shoulder, usually by men. Carrieles were traditionally made of rawhide or nutria fur and are typical of the Antioquia region of Colombia. The bag is associated with paisa culture and commerce^[1] and is a beloved symbol of the industriousness and humble honesty of antioqueños (people from Antioquia, Colombia). The carriel is part of folkloric dress of the region^[2][3] and is also used by modern businessmen throughout the country.

It is said that the word carriel comes from the English "carry-all", but derivation from the French cartier (handbag) is equally likely.^[4]

See also

• Handbag

Notes and references

1. Carrieles were used by arrieros (Paisa cowboys) for their horseback trips around Tierra Paisa. Dier, Andrew (2014). Colombia. Moon Handbooks. Berkeley, California: Avalon Travel. p. 256-257. ISBN 978-1-61238-627-0.
2. Appelbaum, Nancy P. (2003). Muddied Waters: Race, Region, and Local History in Colombia, 1846–1948. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-8223-3080-6.
3. Zuluaga, Andrés Felipe (February 2013). "El carriel "Sanpedreño" se quedó perdido en la historia". Instantáneas (in Spanish). Aló EPM. p. 15. Archived from the original on 12 August 2015.
4. Dier 2014, p. 257