The story behind our colorful Necessaires

Since last year, we wanted to focus more on Women's Empowerment. However, we still needed a concrete project to support women in Guatemala. That's when the idea of the Necessaires came up... But let's start from the beginning:

Guatemala is known for its rich craftsmanship, especially weaving. The indigenous communities of the country have a long history of weaving colorful fabrics and items. Thanks to Elvia, Michelle became aware of a small family business in San Antonio. All the weavers are single mothers who have years of experience and have been making a living through traditional weaving for years. Thus, the idea arose to include traditionally woven Necessaires in our online shop.

To create these colorful works of art, the Maya women follow a tradition that is over 2000 years old. With great skill and years of experience, the creations are made on a waist loom. Each woven pattern and color on a Necessaire tells a story. From symbolic representations of nature to traditions and rituals, the patterns are vibrant expressions of cultural identity.

First, the pattern is laid out on the 'Uridora' to define the final length and width of the fabric. This extremely painstaking process can take several hours. Once the length and width are defined, the yarn is transferred to the loom. One end of the yarn is attached to a tree, post, or wall, while the artist wraps the other end around her hips. By moving forward and backward, she can increase or decrease tension.

The art of traditional weaving in Guatemala and the story of the Necessaires provide fascinating insights into the country's rich cultural landscape. By appreciating and supporting this craftsmanship, efforts are made to preserve these traditional practices for future generations.

If you're as excited about this project as we are and want to support the artisans in San Antonio, take a look at our online shop, where you'll find a wide selection of different Necessaires: https://www.themstory.ch/shop