Here's how weaving cooperatives like the Consejo de Tejedoras of Santo Domingo Xenacoj and social enterprises like Meso Goods are making it happen.
Author:Lola MéndezUpdated:Feb 4, 2020Original:Feb 4, 2020Imitation isn't always a form of flattery. Certainly not for the Indigenous Guatemalan artisans who hand-make designs that date back generations, weaving history into the threads of blouses, scarves and more — only to have them be ripped off on the runway or on fast-fashion clothing racks, without due credit.
Led by Kʼiche' weaver Doña Gloria Estella, the Consejo de Tejedoras is fighting to reclaim ancient motifs that have been used without permission or compensation. Doña Estella refers to the misuse of these sacred designs — like when a New York-based handbag brand allegedly used artwork from Consejo de Tejedoras’s handwoven huipiles — as "copy and paste." She refers to her textiles as a history book: "Everything is there — math, psychology, spirituality.
Meso Goods was founded in 2010 by Diego Olivero to break cycles of poverty in Guatemala through traditional design practices. "I was born in Guatemala and have always been amazed by our craftsmanship," he says. "Guatemala has almost one million artisans working in different techniques. We saw this as an opportunity to create access to international markets."
Other groups, like Mayan Hands and Maya Traditions Foundation, have been around for decades, forging relationships between local craftspeople and global retailers. They work with artisans to provide them sustainable income opportunities through profit-sharing and fair-trade wages while empowering them to preserve their ancestral textile traditions.
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