Wërapara Filming Locations

Amidst the Colombian Andes, a group of trans women from the Embera Chami community make their way into the international fashion scene, empowered through artistic collaboration and creation while preserving their spiritual heritage and ancestral connection to their territory The lives of Marcela, Jaima, Gina, Alexa, Roxana and Pamela take place in the mountains of the Colombian Andes. There, they sow the land, grow and harvest coffee, make handicrafts, take care of their homes and, above all, honor their ancestral territory and culture. They are a group of trans women from the Embera Chami community, located in the Karmata Rua Indigenous Reservation, who have been making their way despite various difficulties. These " clay women" have not been afraid to assume their identity and have struggled to stand up for themselves despite an often hostile environment. Together they raised awareness of their artistic and spiritual expressions, and their work as weavers and designers of accessories typical to their culture echoed at the forefront of fashion in Colombia. The Wërapara - as they call themselves in their native language - advise one another, support each other and, most importantly, strive to preserve the healing power of their self-recognition as a community. Each of these women, with their stories, represents the diversity and potential of the Embera culture and tradition. Thanks to the support of their families and their innate determination to fight discrimination, their individuality stands out. Their unstoppable strength has allowed them to become true leadership figures and role models within and outside their community.