Guatemala Organic Yarns

Lema Weaving Association is tucked on the southern shoreline of Lake Atitlan is the indigenous village of San Juan La Laguna.  Of the ten thousand residents in San Juan 95 percent of the population is comprised of Tz’utujil, one of the 21 Maya ethnic groups that live in Guatemala.

The Tz’utujil are noted for their continuing adherence to traditional cultural and religious practices.

The traditional dyeing techniques that the Lema Weaving Association in San Juan La Laguna is using dyes or colorants derived from locally found plants, trees, and insects in the Lake Atitlan area.  The roots, bark, leaves, berries, wood, and insects each produce a different color and hue.  A few of the plants that are used are coconut shell, pericón, pepper, purple basil, hibiscus flowers, and achiote, among many others.

Using the backloom method of weaving the Lema Weaving Association San Juan La Laguna produces purses, bags, shawls, scarves, huipiles, serapes, tablecloths, place mats, napkins, cushions, bedspreads, hammocks, and many more items.