Empowering Guatemala Women Artisans

http://ethicalfashionguatemala.com/casa-flor-ixcaco-women-weavers-guatemala/
http://ethicalfashionguatemala.com/lema-weaving-association-lake-atitlan-guatemala/
http://ethicalfashionguatemala.com/portfolio-item/san-antonio-aguas-calientes-weavers/

Sustainable Fashion Arizona | Empowering Woman Artisans

Sustainable Fashion Arizona supports purchasing directly from the Guatemalan Weavers sector creates jobs, increases incomes, and promotes cultural heritage. Behind agriculture, artisan activity is the second-largest employer in the developing world.

Organizing and harnessing the power of this sector to increase sales and efficiency has the potential to create jobs, increase incomes, and foster sustainable community development. Investing in Guatemalan Artisans also preserves unique Mayan cultural traditions that in many places are at risk of being replaced by lower quality, machine-made products.

Casa Flor Ixcaco Women Weavers Guatemala

Lema’ Weaving Association of San Juan La Laguna

Tucked on the southern shoreline of Lake Atitlan is the indigenous village of San Juan La Laguna.  Of the ten thousand residents in San Juan, 95 percent of the population is comprised of Tz’utujil, one of the 21 Maya ethnic groups that live in Guatemala.

The Tz’utujil are noted for their continuing adherence to traditional cultural and religious practices.

The traditional dyeing technique that the Lema’ Weaving Association uses in San Juan La Laguna is using dyes or colorants derived from locally found plants, trees, and insects in the Lake Atitlan area.  The roots, bark, leaves, berries, wood, and insects each produce a different color and hue.  A few of the plants that are used are coconut shell, pericón, pepper, purple basil, hibiscus flowers, and achiote, among many others.

Using the backloom method of weaving the Lema’ Weaving Cooperative produce purses, bags, shawls, scarves, huipiles, serapes, tablecloths, placemats, napkins, cushions, bedspreads, hammocks, and many more items.