Tag Archive for: Backstrap Weaving

Traditional Mayan Textiles
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The Case for Sustainable Textiles
As awareness of the environmental and social costs of fast fashion grows, many consumers are seeking alternatives. Traditional Mayan textiles and organic cotton dyed with plant-based herbs represent a return to sustainable practices that honor both people and the planet. They offer several key benefits:
Reduced Environmental Impact: From natural farming to biodegradable materials, sustainable textiles minimize harm to ecosystems.

Materials Used in Maya Textiles
Preparation: The preparation of cotton for spinning was an intensive process. After harvesting, the cotton had to be thoroughly washed to remove impurities and then painstakingly picked clean of seeds. This manual process ensured that the cotton fibers were ready for spinning into yarn.

Lake Atitlan Textile Weavers
Lake Atitlan Textile Weavers. Lema Weaving Association is one of the Lake Atitlan Textile Weavers based on Lake Atitlan's oldest Woman's Co-Op founded in 1982.

Lema Weaving Cooperative | Guatemala Organic Yarns Purple
In current day Mayan textiles, much has changed in the fields of design, technique, and materials. The Kaqchikel and K'iche' are two specific ethnic-linguistic groups that still have strong weaving traditions.