Never lose a pen again with Panel Woven Pencil Bags from Guatemala, a zippered pouch perfectly sized for pens, pencils and other often-misplaced writing utensils. The textile used in this product is handwoven on a backstrap loom, a complex and increasingly rare technique that's been passed down through generations of Mayan women. Also a great gift for wordsmiths, students, artists or anyone who prefers to write letters the old fashioned way.
- Measures 8" wide x 4" high
- Each item is lined in black cloth with zipper closure
- Available in Green, Blue, Purple, Rainbow or Earth tones
Handmade and fair trade imported from Guatemala.
De Colores Artisan Story
Guatemala
Chichicastenango, Guatemala, has become one of the most important heritage centers in Guatemala during the past 10 years, due to its predominant indigenous Maya Quiche population and their traditional textile products. Yet, despite increased tourism and a renewed interest in traditional Mayan crafts, work opportunities remain few for the indigenous population, many of whom are uneducated and otherwise unemployable.
Enter
De Colores Art, a local business that levels the playing field for
villagers by offering free training to anyone who demonstrates the
initiative to learn a trade. The company employs 30 women and 18 men to
knit and embroider textile products, with the option of working at home
using materials provided by the company. De Colores recognizes the
culture of its Mayan employees, and as such allows flexible hours and
gives time off for sowing and harvest days.
De Colores also invests in community education projects by funding two local schools in the neighboring towns of Chujupen y Pachoj, and by providing scholarships to qualifying students.
In addition to stimulating the local economy by creating new jobs, De Colores makes a conscious effort to use recycled materials whenever possible. The reason for this is twofold: to preserve Mayan culture, as recycled textiles showcase traditional knitting patterns that aren’t often seen in newer textiles, and to reduce scraps and waste.
Communities collaborate in the production process, as men work on the biggest textiles and women do the embroidery, crochet and macramé seen in smaller pieces. In some cases, in order to be competitive, sewing machines are used to assemble the finished product, although all the components are handmade and handembroidered from cotton, wool and/or silk.