Maybe you don't know what a Poschti is. I didn't know either when I started a job as a seamstress at KoKoTé. But maybe you've figured out that it has something to do with shopping. For me, who lived my whole life in a city called Cali in southwest Colombia and only spoke Spanish until I came to Uri with my husband in 2020, it's a bit more difficult. There's a tiny difference between "I ga ga poschte!" and "Me voy de compras!" ....
Anyway, Poschti has become my KoKoTé favorite and I even make it myself now. I came to the KoKoTé workshop as a political refugee and completed the EBA vocational training here in summer 2024. I am really surprised by how interesting my work is and how a simple piece of fabric or leather, with the sewing machine and the skill of my hands, mutates into a beautiful, fun, elegant accessory that accompanies our customers in their daily lives.... And between you and me, I love "ga ga poschte", especially now that my German - or let's say Swiss German - is slowly improving thanks to my training at the Association Equilibre school with Christine and Jeannine... my strict and lovely teachers!
Well, shopping can also be a strenuous sport. Sport is not my passion otherwise, but I like to push all my furniture aside in the living room and dance salsa. This is the rhythm I learned from my father... we practiced it every time there was a party at home... and there were many parties despite the devastating political circumstances. Salsa really makes my heart beat and stirs a whirlwind of memories in my head. Colombia... where a completely different wind blows than here in Uri! You can't imagine how much I appreciate waking up, opening my window and seeing the high Uri mountains and the changing colors of the seasons before my curious eyes... and then the sound of the Reuss lulling me to sleep at night. Finally, I breathe fresh air and feel peace in my heart. I have only one goal, which is to learn a lot more about how to do my job with excellence and passion and to push the craftsmanship level to its limits!
Unfortunately, we don't have enough space in the shop to do a round of salsa... how I would have loved to let you feel the rhythm of the very special Colombian salsa, which is of course much more exciting than the New York or Caribbean salsa. But no matter, I'm just as happy to show you how we at KoKoTé make excellent handmade everyday bags from ecological materials and beautiful, natural, traceable leather!
Just ask for me... I'm Beatriz!
