Our First Commission with the Weavers of Gautemala
When I started The Weave Project, I had a simple idea: that a handwoven scarf could carry more than warmth. It could carry a story, a tradition, and a livelihood. This summer, that idea became real. I'm thrilled to share that The Weave Project has placed its first production order with the Cojolya Association of Maya Women Weavers in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala.
WHO ARE THE WEAVERS OF COJOLYA?
Santiago Atitlán sits on the shore of Lake Atitlán in the Guatemalan highlands, ringed by volcanoes. It is home to the Tz'utujil Maya, and it is one of the places where the ancient art of backstrap loom weaving has survived, unbroken, for centuries.
Cojolya was founded in 1983, during the Guatemalan Civil War, with a dual mission: to preserve the backstrap loom tradition not as a museum piece but as a living, economically viable craft, and to give women weavers a path to income security and independence. Today, Cojolya is a certified fair trade organization, and because it is an association rather than an intermediary, the proceeds flow back to the artisans themselves, their families, and social programs in the community.
THE CRAFT
The backstrap loom is remarkable in its simplicity. One end is tied to a post or tree; the other wraps around the weaver's back. The weaver's own body creates the tension that holds the threads taut, and every line of the fabric passes through her hands. There are no machines, no shortcuts — just skill passed from mother to daughter across generations.
The scarves we've commissioned are made this way, thread by thread. Each one takes real time to complete, and no two are exactly alike. When you hold one, you're holding hours of a woman's concentration, her training, and her artistry.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Handweaving traditions around the world are under pressure. When machine-made textiles flood markets, the economic case for weaving by hand erodes — and with it, the tradition itself. The best way to keep a craft alive is to make sure the people who practice it can earn a fair, dignified living from it.
That's what this commission is about. By paying fair prices for handwoven scarves and bringing them to new customers, we help increase the weavers' incomes — and just as importantly, we bring their stories with the scarves. Every piece we sell will come with the story of where it was made, how it was made, and the tradition it belongs to.
WHAT'S NEXT
Our first batch of scarves is in production now, and I can't wait to show you the finished pieces. In the coming weeks, I'll be sharing more here on the blog — including the stories of the women behind the scarves, in their own words.
Thank you for following along. Every scarf is a thread connecting you to Santiago Atitlán — and every purchase helps keep this beautiful tradition alive.
— Anusha
The Weave Project commissions handwoven scarves from artisan cooperatives in Latin America, increasing weavers' incomes and sharing their stories with the world. Learn more about Cojolya at cojolya.org.gt.
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