It’s hard to believe that just two months ago we were celebrating reaching our Indiegogo campaign goal! But even before the campaign closed, we started the work necessary to grow Maya Traditions. Thanks to your support and this hard work, we have already reached a number of exciting milestones that we are thrilled to share with you. Through your support, we have: Hired a full time designer, Averie Floyd, to better support our design partners and to develop a new line of Maya Traditions’ products. If you haven’t had the chance to meet or work with Averie yet, learn more
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As I think about leaving beautiful Guatemala, I can’t help but get nostalgic for all of the wonderful people, the beautiful vistas, the vibrant textiles, and most importantly the lessons I have learned and the ways I have grown. Many of these memories are directly connected to my work at Maya Traditions Foundation. My work here over the last year and a half has been transformative for me, and for the foundation. I think that the best way to sum it up is to share a number of thank-yous. Thank you to our wonderful design and retail partners! Working with
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Muy buenos días! We are happy to report that Maya Traditions Foundation is now an official, government-certified 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization! While we have been a nonprofit in Guatemala since 2007, being a non-profit in the United States is key to our mission and will support our growth as an organization. We are not in this for the money. We are in this to support indigenous female artisans as they work to strengthen their communities, earn a fair living, and preserve and promote the art of backstrap weaving. We are nothing without our artisan partners and this designation will allow us to continue
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If you’ve had the opportunity to visit Guatemala and meet Maya Traditions’ artisans, staff, and volunteers in person, you know that you have found a remarkable place. This month, we asked our incredible staff what makes our work at Maya Traditions special. Here is what they had to say: ‘Maya Traditions has strong, long-lasting relationships with artisans and works to support them as whole women not just artisans.’ ‘We convert the needs of our artisans into opportunities, offering them the training and tools necessary so that they themselves can change thier own situations. For me, that’s true empowerment.’ ‘We are a foundation
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What did you do with your last pair of old, rugged jeans? Artists Mark Vennegoor and Rebeca Vennegoor-Solares, a couple from Holland, came to Maya Traditions to implement a unique pilot project that gives new life to old pairs of jeans, “The idea of this project is to raise awareness of the clothes we use. In the Western world, it’s very common to buy clothes and throw them away, there is no connection to or appreciation for our clothes. The concept of the project is to change this habit, and combine the pants with the Maya culture, to give these
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Posted by Maya Traditions on February 25, 2015
In January 2015, Maya Traditions’ team welcomed reporter Laurie Stern to our office in Panajachel, Sololá, Guatemala. After brief correspondence via email and phone, Laurie was interested in capturing our story at Maya Traditions and sharing it with the world. Through sitting in on client meetings to traveling to the rural community of Quiejel, Chichicastenago during an artisan and student meeting, Laurie was able to fully grasp the importance of our relationships with our artisans and our customers. As consumer demand for Fair Trade and ethical products increase, we are seeing an increase in inquiry from businesses and designers from around the
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After much preparation, the time has finally come – the NY Now Show! As we speak, our Sales & Marketing Director Alison Wandschneider and Production Manager Flory Pérez are on a plane to the US to participate in this six-day gift and trade show. Featuring over 2,800 exhibiting companies, NY Now showcases the very best product lines in the areas of fashion merchandise, design, home and lifestyle. There will be a variety of businesses, designers, manufacturing companies as well as some of the leading national retail chains participating in the event. We are excited to have a presence in the NY
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Floridalma Perez first started working for Maya Traditions nearly ten years ago, assisting office staff with accounting, and from there began working as a production assistant. Today, Floridalma, or Flori as she prefers to be called, works as the Production Manager for Maya Traditions Foundation and is headed off to the United States to showcase our products with Sales & Marketing Director Alison! Just before she left, we interviewed her to get the inside scoop on her thoughts and feelings as she prepared for her first trip to the US and as an international representative for MTF. “This is like
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We will be showcasing our naturally dyed Ikat scarf line this week at the NY Now Show! You may be wondering, ‘‘what is Ikat?’’ ‘‘natural dye?’’ Allow us to explain. Ikat, also known to Mayan weavers as “Jaspe,” is a traditional weaving technique that allows the artisan to incorporate intricate design patterns into backstrap woven textiles. Maya Traditions’ cooperatives in San Juan La Laguna integrate natural dyes, created from plants and insects, and Ikat patterns to their backstrap woven textiles, producing unique and elaborate designs. Each of these techniques is traditional to Maya culture and to the region, adding complexity and
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Posted by Maya Traditions on September 10, 2014
As I am sitting in graduate school classes again it is still hard for me to believe that my summer in Panajachel, Guatemala working with Maya Traditions Foundation is over. The experience was amazing, the organization was the perfect fit for my interests, and the staff was so wonderful to work with and learn from. Looking back over the experience and reflecting on it all is still a bit overwhelming. The experience was incredible, I experienced and learned so much and it already has had such a monumental impact on my life, my education, and who I am as a
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