(updated 6th July 2009)

NEW SCARVES COMING !!!

(will be here for the SUMMER !)

Maria actually lives in Nahualá municipality, in the neighbouring 'Departamento de Solola'. However, I met Maria in May 2008 while I was studying Spanish language at the "Escuela Miguel de Cervantes" in Quetzaltenego (also known as Xela).

Once a week Maria would come into town, bringing with her many colourful fabrics, hand-woven by her and friends in her village.

Maria would sit on the floor, in a shaded spot just in from the courtyard, and in her gentle but totally committed way, take down her heavy-looking bundle from her head and spread out her wares for us to view.

As a backpacker, you want to travel light (!) but I was continually captured by the vibrant colours of the 'bufandas' or neck-scarves she would show us, and it seemed every week I would buy a handful, knowing I would be loving to give them as gifts to friends back home, and certainly keeping a few to wear myself !

Hand-woven on a rustic, home-made backstrap loom, each brilliantly coloured cotton scarf takes Maria about 5 hours to create.

The response from friends who received them as a gift from me, was so enthusiastic, that I imported a large quantity of scarves to NZ for retail sale and wholesale, which as you can see from the sample photos here, have much appeal.

NEWS: A new batch of 300 scarves will be here for the coming SUMMER market season.

People who have bought the scarves have been touched with the story of Maria and that she is getting more business : it's kind of like a mini "Trade Aid" : when you buy one of Maria's scarves, you're DIRECTLY contributing to the lives and wellbeing of a small family and community in Guatemala.

Maria even sweetly sent me a short note of gratitude (which you can read here : practice your Spanish !)

And you get a piece of another culture a world-away through the generosity of your purchase.

A couple of people are now approaching me about wholesale, so we can keep a flow of trade going for Maria, plus I am keen to find other 'Marias' to trade with, so watch this space (or email me if you have an interest in helping me achieve this)

I am also in consultation with two foremost 'trade / aid' type organisations here in NZ to see what is needed to connect them with Maria and her village, for direct partnerships.

So, in the meantime, how do you get a scarf if you want one ?

Well, I am bringing in a small batch of samples, and then a small stock to see us through the year till next summer : bigger orders and wholesale will of course happen too, but not via my hands. Let me know what it is you want and ew can find a way to get that for you !

Link to Story of Guatemala trip, April - June 2008

Link to Story of Sponsoring Tibetan Child's Education

 

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