Abstract
This article examines the work of Amazonian women artisans who, in collaboration with the cuieira tree (Crescentia cujete), create the traditional cuias of Santarém. These vessels are distinguished by their black organic lacquer and intricate carved motifs, which give cultural value to objects primarily used as containers. The study seeks to inform design methodologies that foreground environmental responsibility while demonstrating how ancestral knowledge can inspire sustainable practices. It also underscores the central role of women in preserving and transmitting this heritage. To address these aims, the research employed a mixed-method approach: a literature review on sustainable design; a historical analysis of cuia-making practices and related museum collections; and ethnographic fieldwork, including interviews and participant observation with artisans. Findings reveal that women are long-standing guardians of the cuia craft, mastering ecological techniques of painting and ornamentation while cultivating close ties with cuieira trees and with one another. These relationships shape their creative processes and strengthen collective knowledge. The discussion contrasts these practices with industrial systems that prioritize extraction over interdependence, highlighting the overlooked potential of Indigenous crafts in contemporary design. The conclusion emphasizes the need to value relational approaches that integrate ecological awareness, cultural continuity, and care— dimensions often absent from mainstream design discourse.
Keywords
Amazon Forest; Ancestral Knowledge; Craft; Care
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.418
Citation
Bandoni, A.,and de Belas-Artes, N.(2025) Sustainable Design Through Tradition: Insights from the Cuia Craft of Amazonian Women, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.418
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 11 - Culture and Craft Design for Regenerative Practices
Sustainable Design Through Tradition: Insights from the Cuia Craft of Amazonian Women
This article examines the work of Amazonian women artisans who, in collaboration with the cuieira tree (Crescentia cujete), create the traditional cuias of Santarém. These vessels are distinguished by their black organic lacquer and intricate carved motifs, which give cultural value to objects primarily used as containers. The study seeks to inform design methodologies that foreground environmental responsibility while demonstrating how ancestral knowledge can inspire sustainable practices. It also underscores the central role of women in preserving and transmitting this heritage. To address these aims, the research employed a mixed-method approach: a literature review on sustainable design; a historical analysis of cuia-making practices and related museum collections; and ethnographic fieldwork, including interviews and participant observation with artisans. Findings reveal that women are long-standing guardians of the cuia craft, mastering ecological techniques of painting and ornamentation while cultivating close ties with cuieira trees and with one another. These relationships shape their creative processes and strengthen collective knowledge. The discussion contrasts these practices with industrial systems that prioritize extraction over interdependence, highlighting the overlooked potential of Indigenous crafts in contemporary design. The conclusion emphasizes the need to value relational approaches that integrate ecological awareness, cultural continuity, and care— dimensions often absent from mainstream design discourse.