Cotton

It all begins with the harvesting of cotton. Mayan communities grow their own cotton or source it locally.

Weavers pick the cotton and manually remove the seeds. Then, they tap the gathered cotton with wooden forks to intertwine the fibers.

Spinning

The weaver holds the fluffed cotton in one hand and spins a Malacate with the other to create yarn.

This step requires great skill and patience, as will determine the thickness and evenness of the yarn.

Natural Dyeing

*Since the colors are sourced from nature, the shades may change within the seasons, weather conditions, and even the phases of the moon.

The colors... Oh, the colors! Weavers take them from nature – think flowers, plants, seeds, and even cochineal insects. They select materials from their surroundings to achieve the hues they desire.*

They boil those materials in hot water, tease out vibrant colors, strain the dye, dip the thread, give it a good stir, and let it dry, bringing those vibrant colors to life.

Winding & Measuring

Once the yarn is all dried up, she winds the yarn onto a spool and measures turns based on the desired canvas size.

The Sacred Act of Weaving

Weavers sit down at their backstrap looms, with one end secured around a fixed point and the other end tied around their waist, they control the tension, creating their incredible designs. The dance begins, with threads intertwining and colorful patterns emerging.

*The fabric itself is created with the backstrap loom. It's not about embroidery or details; it's about crafting the fabric "from scratch" interweaving threads on the loom.

Bags

First, artisans get creative, designing and crafting shapes that make your bag unique. Then, they pick the perfect leather and cut it. They assemble the bag, sewing it.