Among the Andes mountains of Colombia, a leather bag with lots of pockets was once an essential travel companion for generations of coffee farmers and traders. Known as the carriel antioqueño or guarniel, this handmade leather saddle bag carries much more than tools and supplies—it carries a legacy of culture, endurance, and craftsmanship.
At Bomboná, we’ve reimagined this heritage piece for the modern world, while staying true to its artisanal roots.
Born from the Coffee Trail
In the late 1800s, Colombia’s economy was deeply rooted in its growing coffee trade. But with the collapse of international prices and the onset of the Colombian Thousand Day War, large plantations broke into smaller family-run farms. Coffee production became decentralized, and a new generation of smallholders emerged across the mountainous regions of Antioquia.
Since these farms were scattered and roads were nearly nonexistent, coffee had to be transported over long distances by muleteers—men who traveled for days or even weeks across rugged terrain. These muleteers needed a saddle crossbody bag leather strong enough to carry everything they might need on the journey: contracts, receipts, tobacco, matches, religious icons, knives, harmonicas—even money, photographs, and love letters. The solution? A compact, durable bag packed with cleverly designed compartments: the carriel.
Traditionally made with up to 18 hidden and functional pockets, carriel bags were engineering marvels. Today, Bomboná’s version includes 5 thoughtfully designed compartments—honoring the practicality of the original while adapting it to modern life.
More Than Just a Bag
The carriel antioqueño has become more than just a coffee bag or a working man’s companion. Over time, it has evolved into a powerful cultural symbol, worn with pride during traditional celebrations and now admired worldwide as a unique expression of Colombian heritage.
While luxury fashion houses like Dior have made headlines with the Bag Dior Saddle—a silhouette inspired by riding bags—the Colombian guarniel has been crafting saddle crossbody bag designs by hand for generations. Our artisanal bags are part of that lineage, made in collaboration with traditional leather artisans who preserve century-old techniques.
Handmade with Purpose
Each Bomboná carriel is handmade in Colombia using responsibly sourced full grain leather—a natural byproduct of the food industry that retains the hide’s unique character and beauty. To ensure authenticity and social impact:
We collaborate directly with master leather artisans who have inherited the knowledge of crafting handmade leather saddle bags.
Our leather is unprocessed and sustainable, chosen for its durability, richness, and natural patina (learn more about our commitments to sustainability here).
- Every carriel is stitched, shaped, and finished by hand— in family workshops in Nariño.
Even the dust bags that protect our leather goods are made by a women’s cooperative in Bogotá, supporting single mothers and women-led households. Each embroidered Bomboná logo is a tribute to their strength and skill.
A New Journey
From the misty coffee mountains of Colombia to the urban rhythms of today’s cities, the carriel has never stopped moving. What once carried beans and letters now carries laptops and dreams.
At Bomboná, we see every saddle crossbody bag as more than a fashion statement. It’s a journey into the past, a celebration of craftsmanship, and an invitation to carry culture forward.
So whether you’re walking through Bogotá, Taipei, or Paris—your carriel bag carries more than essentials. It carries history.