We use traditional techniques to make our unique and durable textiles. Our design and craftsmanship brings the beauty of our Mayan ancestry into your home—and sustains it for the future of our community.
In this ancient technique, a wide cloth belt called a backstrap goes around the weaver’s hips and is attached to the lower bar of the loom. This lower bar carries the warp threads which run vertically. Another loom bar supports the warp threads at the other end, which are attached to a high point—in our case, a hook on the wall. The weaver uses her body to create tension, and with a stick called a beater, she beats the weft—or horizontal thread—down into place. Non-mechanized and portable, the backstrap loom is the oldest form of loom in the world.
Designing, Pattern-making and Prep
Our designers and pattern-makers draw inspiration from traditional Mayan symbolism and weaving patterns, and adapt them with a contemporary eye—resulting in textiles that are stylish, functional and timeless. An essential part of the process is translating the designs onto the loom. All of the components must be precise to produce the desired finished effect.
Foot Loom Weaving
Traditionally used only by men, foot looms are free-standing frameworks, able to more quickly produce much wider cloth than a backstrap loom. To interlock the threads, a series of foot pedals mechanically lifts the warp—the vertically arranged thread. The weavers pass the horizontal thread back and forth while skillfully pushing the foot pedals in the proper sequence. From the simple flat weaves the women produced when first learning the foot loom, they have progressed to increasingly complex patterns and textures, even inventing their own variations.
For very special products, the women hand-embroider traditional patterns onto the woven cloth.
Embroidery can be done directly on the backstrap loom, during the weaving process. Another type of embroidery is done using needle and thread on fabric stretched over a hooped frame. These embroidered pieces will then go to the seamstresses to integrate into the final product.
Sewing
Our seamstresses are trained on industrial sewing machines and provide a top-notch finish to each and every piece we make. They transform our textiles into sturdy, practical items for everyday use as well as statement pieces for special occasions.
