Our Story

For years, I admired that purse every day, always wondering about its origin. As I researched its story, I discovered it had been handcrafted by the Indigenous Wayuu tribe of La Guajira, in northern Colombia, and these iconic handmade bags are known as Wayuu 'mochilas.'

That discovery inspired me to travel to La Guajira in 2018, where I had the opportunity to meet a Wayuu family who welcomed me into their home and introduced me to other families who were skilled artisans. During my time there, I spent time with the Wayuu tribe and learned about their community, culture, traditions, and way of life. I also came to appreciate that each bag is far more than an accessory, as it is an expression of the artisan's creativity, heritage, and craftsmanship. Every combination of colors, patterns, and designs tells its own unique story, making each piece a beautiful reflection of Wayuu artistry.

After meeting the Wayuu people, I traveled back home to Dallas and founded a small traveling trunk show called Tambora Exchange. Through it, I began sharing their story while selling their handmade goods at flea markets and pop-up events throughout Texas. Through Tambora, dozens of families within the Indigenous community were able to earn a fair income to help meet their daily needs, and some were even able to pursue higher education.

As Tambora grew, I expanded into more established pop-up markets, including the Round Top Antique Show, Houston Ballet's Nutcracker Market, and Grapevine's GrapeFest and Main Street Fest. Each of these incredible experiences inspired me to continue growing Tambora and helped create my vision for the brand in ways I never expected.

It was during Tambora's years as a traveling trunk show that I realized I wanted to expand my horizons into the fashion world. While setting up for markets across Texas, I found myself dreaming of opening a boutique of my own.

Fast forward to 2024, and that dream became a reality, when I opened my first brick-and-mortar boutique in Historic Downtown McKinney, Texas: Tambora Boutique. Here, I expanded beyond Wayuu handmade treasures to curate a boutique filled with unique women's apparel and accessories.

Today, I'm so grateful to be living this moment with all of you in the McKinney and Dallas community. It brings me so much joy to curate beautifully designed collections that empower women to feel confident while celebrating creativity and individuality.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about our story. I’m so happy to have you here, and I welcome you to join our Tambora journey through our social media as we share more stories, inspiration, and the beautiful journey behind Tambora.

Xoxo, Claudia Freeman - Founder of Tambora