Trama Textiles was featured in Business Insider's | Still Standing series in August of 2021. | San Pedro La Laguna San Juans Casa Flor Ixcaco Weaving Cooperative really won me over with their selection of stunning handwoven bags, pillow cases, blankets, mens and womens clothing, shawls, and home accessories, many of which you can order online. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Many of them were widows who had been adrift with their children; living with numerous limitations, in addition to constant harassment and discrimination. Learn how to MAKE THE MOST OF A GUIDED TOUR. In this way, MADRE and MUIXIL equip Ixil women with tools and knowledge to vote and run in local elections and take part in public life. The cooperative creates opportunities for weavers in historically marginalized communities with fair pay and safe working conditions. At the end of the lesson, we took with the three women and it came out to be adorable. The fantastic women of the Casa Flor Ixcaco weaving cooperative in San Juan la Laguna, Solola, Guatemala have transformed our business strategies and practices. I loved that I was supporting women who use natural fibers and dyes. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Weaving Process Maya Symbolism Maya History and Cultural Resources Get Involved . Weavers are paid today by these groups above less then 12% of the retail selling price of a product. Under the WTO Casa Flor is protected Internationally. The net profit is divided among the 15 members. We were mid-process of making scarves. The economical condition of Guatemala impelled her to move to the coast and begin work as a cotton picker. Your email address will not be published. My travel partner got many of her souvenirs in San Juan La Laguna on this main street. Guatemala Weavers San Antonio Aguas Calientes. Here are a few places I often to shop: (Not all are affiliate links), Multi-brand outdoor retailers: REI.com / Backcountry.com / ActiveThreads.com, Individual outdoor brands: Patagonia.com / TopoDesigns.com / Thermarest.com / Chaco.com / RoyalRobbins.com / Kuhl.com, General shopping: Target.com / OldNavy.com / Amazon.com (ugh, I know), Rental Cars: EscapeCampervans.com / CostcoTravel.com, Accommodation: Airbnb.com / Trivago.com / Hipcamp.com. Proving to be the perfect carry-on size, it easily fits all my in-flight necessities (book, iPad, shawl, toiletries, chargers, etc.) Approximate size 60 by 10. Typically, they are American school buses that have been energized with blazing colours and names like Santa Catalina or Lucky Rosita, depending on the religious Guatemala Weavers San Antonio Aguas Calientes is or secular bent of its owners. That Scarf took two weeks to make in total, now a Tourist offers the Cooperative owner $5. They were targeted with genocide, and many lost their homes and loved ones. The roots, bark, leaves, berries, wood, and insects each produce a different color and hue. Before going, I wanted to do a weaving class that was hands-on and not simply informative. Finding Woman to Grow Organic Cotton, others to grow, harvest and prepare the herbs for the natural dying process used to color the textiles. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. When it was founded in 1993 this cooperative gave life to the first circles of women in the communities of Chontala El Quich, which were formed mostly by female victims of the internal conflict that took place in Guatemala in the 1960s. 6. If you're in Guatemala or . Each of the towns around Lake Atitlan has a unique vibe and clientele. Our mission is to create work for fair wages for the women of Guatemala, to support our families and communities, and to preserve and develop our cultural traditions by maintaining our textile arts and their histories. Able to communicate in their own Maya dialects, our weavers decide on the price of each product and are paid up front. Of the ten thousand residents in San Juan 95 percent of the population is comprised of Tzutujil, one of the 21 Maya ethnic groups that live in Guatemala. Or, when you arrive in San Juan la Laguna, there is a coffee shop on the main street, where you can access wifi again. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Our grantmaking also provides food and income by giving women the supplies needed to raise chickens to feed their families and sell eggs in local markets. Colibr offers fine quality hand-woven textile products crafted . They flew through the rows until we made about 16 inches of wall hanging patterns. But she kept fighting, the women of the cooperative would meet up in private when their husbands were out in order to weave. As consumers, we have the power to choose to wear artisan crafts that support present day livelihood development,environmental sustainability, and a rare and surviving Mayan culture of women in the arts. They also offer lessons to guests. Asociacion Maya de Desarrollo is an indigenous women's weaving cooperative located in Solol, Guatemala. The weaving lesson turned out to be fully hands-on with explanations coming in the form of showing us, rather than telling us. According to weaving cooperative Casa Flor Ixcaco, the war also resulted in the loss of 400 weaving styles. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. We promise to send emails you will love. Although I was enjoying learning how to use the backstrap loom, I had hoped to create something to display. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Since our lesson was only 2-3 hours, the loom was set up before we arrived. While my travel partner shopped, I stopped into a coffee shop for an iced coffee and wifi. The women use plant dyes, recycled materials, and sell the products they make. Lema' Weaving Association San Juan La Laguna is a cooperative that was started to improve economic conditions and the quality of life for women in the community of San Juan La Laguna, Lake Atitlan. View a price list here. We were mid-process of making scarves. Guatemalas history inspires its customs today; from the chores of daily life to the momentous holiday celebrations, this country continually honors its rich past. Traditional and elegant Mayan art is isolated from the city, however, connecting the work of the cooperative to the international community allows for an unprecedented market bridge - and a hope of sustainability. Casa Flor Ixcaco, Casa Flor Designs, Casa Flor Textiles, Casa Flor Weavers, are the Registered Copyrights of Casa Flor Ixaco. The groups diversity lends a unique regional touch to every hand-created piece, and the adherence to traditional techniques means their products are made to last. Each lakeside village surrounding Atitlan is known for its specific craft (carpets, woodwork, textiles), and San Juan de La Laguna is famed for its weaving. In other words: making a living from their art can be challenging. And to be clear, theyre all gorgeous! You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Trama Textiles is an 100% worker owned and run cooperative. The job allowed her to learn all about the plant and its cultivation. San Antonio Aguas Calientes Womans Weaving Cooperative. Our Transparency policy is clear, Ethical Fashion Guatemala changes Guatemala Weaving Cooperatives 10% of the retail selling price of the products sold the use of Ethic Fashion Guatemalas E-Commerce technology. For Oralia, paying women a fair wage for their products is incredibly rewarding as it has a direct impact on empowering women within the community. Guatemala Weaving Cooperatives began and continued during the years of the Guatemala Civil War. I have taken the chicken buses many times during my time in Guatemala. A Scarf in a Weaving Shop is for sale for $10. that both my travel partner and I wanted to make wall-hangings. Weaving the Threads of Dominican Spirituality is a book that brings together biographies and writings of a number of Dominican women and . On the back patio, to grandmotherly women were setting up the looms and beginning to weave. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. $66.50 The yarns produced by this cooperative are all 100%organic and they use a natural dye process of the Tzutujil tradition derived from locally found plants, trees, and insects in the Lake Atitlan area. Across Guatemala, each Maya town has its own unique traje (traditional dress) which distinguishes it from another. Colibr was founded in 1984 to assist several groups of indigenous women widowed during the armed conflict in Guatemala. We are a cooperative of women weavers from rural Guatemala focusing on providing. Indigenous Ixil women living in the Quich region of Guatemala endured 36 years of civil war. The issues reach not only globally but even in Guatemalan as clothing designer Saul come under fire for their use of Mayan designs of Guatemalan Maya Weavers from Santiago Atitlan and Solol in their clothing lines. 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. While there are many authentic tipica items, there is a lot of stuff here that is factory made and can be found just about anywhere in Guatemala. Ethical Fashion Brand and Guatemala Textiles. Hand dyed and handwoven from bamboo chenille fibres. Guatemala Weaving Cooperatives began and continued during the years of the Guatemala Civil War. Lisa, a volunteer of Trama, tr Guatemala es realmente uno de los pases ms coloridos, gracias a la diversidad de culturas mayas, idiomas y, obviamente, a la gente, que mantiene vivas estas tradiciones ancestrales. We looked for a course in one of the small towns around Lake Atitlan because we were busy climbing volcanos in Antigua. When you get off the dock from the water taxi, youll be on the main street, filled with artisan shops. 30 Weaving Co-Operatives from 18 linguistic communities in Guatemala are supporting the movement which is led by the Womens Association for Development of Sacatepequez, known in its Spanish acronym as AFEDES. Oralia joined Trama as a teenager and lives in Xela with her family. In essence, you are pulling one set of threads forward and running the shuttle, then pulling the other set of threads forward and running the shuttle. For other ways to support Moderately Adventurous, head to the Support Me page. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. They were targeted with genocide, and many . 30 Weaving Co-Operatives . Sometimes bad things happen so good things can. Guatemala Premium Bulk Coffee Beans | Wholesale, Copyright - Ethical Fashion Guatemala LLC | Copyright - Ethical Fashion Guatemala, Guatemala Ceramics Store | San Antonio Palopo | Lake Atitlan, Lema Weaving Cooperative | Guatemala Organic Yarns Purple, Guatemala Weavers San Antonio Aguas Calientes, Guatemala Maya Medicine | Healing | Sanctuaries, Arizona Governors Race | Running out of WATER, Corp Theft Mayan Textiles Designs Rampant. Learn how your comment data is processed. Survivors of genocide preserve and pass on their traditional heritage through unique weaving designs. Indigenous cooperative for Guatemalan women. Today, many widows and single mothers are the sole breadwinners for their families. GUATEMALA Women's Weaving Cooperative | Suan Juan La Laguna, Lake Atitlan San Juan La Laguna is an enclave for feminism where women are leading the charge. Except how Weaving Cooperatives sell the products they produce and to whom. The vision for Casa Flor Ixcacostarted in 1950, through seven year-old Teresa Ujpan Perezs interest in back-strap weaving. By selling and commercializing our natural weaving products, we can ensure a better future for our children so they can not only finish their studies, but also continue on to college., The vision for Casa Flor Ixcaco started in 1950 Weaving Co-Operative Lake Atitlan. The National Movement of Maya Weavers has organized Weavers from various parts of Guatemala in an attempt to seek a change in Guatemala laws to have their designs protected. Approximate size 70 by 8 plus fringe. Available in a wide range of colours. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. When we agreed to the mini-wall hanging, the two older women jumped into action. Available in a wide range of colours. Guatemala Weavers and Weaving Co-Operatives have been seeking support of the Guatemala Government to protect the designs of the Mayan Weavers Textiles.. All Mayan women learned to weave in order to provide fabric for their homes and families, although the wealthier women used higher quality thread and learned more elaborate designs. Guatemala Is It Safe For Women To Travel Solo? We give women the tools they need to sustain themselves and their families. Amparo learnt to weave to support her family and has devoted her life to empowering other women through weaving to support themselves, their families and their communities.As Amparo can read, write and speak in Spanish, she considers herself lucky since the majority of weavers represented by Trama Textiles is illiterate. Home goods and accessories for modern living created by a womens weaving cooperative in Guatemala working to change lives Best of all, these women weavers many of whom are single mothers earn 75% of the profit, enabling them to support their families. Masks are currently available in various colours. This is where Trama Textiles intervenes. was a hands-on way to experience Mayan culture. Who knew driving on a pickup with a pensioner could be fun? Legend has it that weaving was first taught to the Mayans 1,500 years ago by Ix Chel, Mayan goddess of the moon, love, and textiles. You dont have to be a textile expert to see that. Trama Textiles is a cooperative of female Maya backstrap loom weavers across Guatemala. Each of the dowels having a particular function. Each member learned the craft of traditional weaving from their mothers and grandmothers. AMPARO DE LEN DE RUBIOAmparo is the president of Trama Textiles, and is passionate about improving opportunities and livelihood for women. The strap around your body hugs the top of your buns, allowing you to lean back to create tension and slide the runner back and forth. Many claim to be donating money back to the Weavers, which is true a $40 donation out of a $300 Sale. Woman spun the cotton, dyed the cotton, prepared the weaver layout and design, then woman who had master the Mayan skills to weaver complex and detailed designs for the final product began to weave the final product. National Movement Guatemalan Maya Weavers. For more i. It is not only alive and well, but is also a major source of income for families and women in particular. We also collaborate with various individual weavers and artisans across the country who play a crucial role in Trama's success. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. Or read my tips for PLANNING A BACKPACKING TRIP in a National Park. 5. Available in various colours in cotton or rayon chenille. They took over the loom and asked us to pick through a scrap bag for colors we liked. It is not only alive and well, but is also a major source of income for families and women in particular. So by all means, go to Guatemala Weavers San Antonio Aguas Calientes. After the course and looking at the things we bought in town, the intricate designs are mesmerizing. Required fields are marked *. Oralia joined Trama as a teenager, encouraged to pursue Tramas mission as her father was passionate about helping women affected by the civil war. I wish I had more money and suitcase space to buy some of the stunning handmade clothing items. There are a few tempting shops and open-air markets in Antigua, a popular Guatemalan city, but Id strongly recommend holding out and buying your souvenirs directly from the weaving cooperatives around Lake Atitlan. 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. For Oralia,paying women a fair wage for their products is rewarding, as it has a direct impact on empowering women within the community. At the end of the lesson, we had not only a mini wall-hanging but also a section of a handwoven scarf! If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Casa Flor Ixcaco Weaving Co-Operative San Juan La Laguna uses Technology provided by Ethical Fashion Guatemala to reach the global market. We spent an afternoon with three women who gently and persistently showed us the consistency of weaving. Weaving at home allowed them to support their children through their craft, while at the same time developing self-confidence and organizing skills. . We walked away with a greater appreciation of the art, our creations in hand. You'll hear from me shortly. The skill of backstrap weaving is so lovely and mind-boggling. This women's weaving cooperative on the shores of Lake Atitlan is all about empowering women and giving them the ability to support their children. We make sure womens voices are heard in justice processes, including in trials to hold perpetrators accountable for human rights abuses against Indigenous Peoples. Atitln Women Weavers is a women's weaving cooperative that was established two and a half years ago by a local Mayan woman named Anita. During this period, many Maya men were lost: grandfathers, fathers, brothers and sons. Central to the TinteMaya lesson is the backstrap loom, which is popular in Guatemala weaving. These ladies shine like no one else. But this is the only place in the pueblo where the famous San Antonio Aguas Calientes Guatemala woven colors can be had. There was an error submitting your subscription. MUIXIL is a Guatemalan grassroots women's groupthat promotesthe political, economic, and cultural rights of Ixil Mayan and other Indigenous women. Each intricate pattern not only symbolizes individual creativity, but celebrates a traditional way of life still celebrated in the present day. Before going, I wanted to do a weaving class that was hands-on and not simply informative. OR if youre headed to a National Park at the last minute, check out my tips for GETTING A WALK-UP PERMIT OR FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE CAMPGROUND. These preparations take around 3-4 days. El espaol de Guatemala o espaol guatemalteco es nico por derecho propio, fusionndose y evolucionando con los diversos idiomas y dialectos que residen en el pas. Laws already exist to protect the Weavers designs. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. The water taxis at Lake Atitlan only run for set hours and this delay made it a little stressful for us to get to our accommodations for the night. If youre visiting Guatemala, Id highly recommend carving out at least three or four days to soak up the picturesque beauty of Lake Atitlan and experience all its lakeside villages have to offer. Copyright owners also lose a substantial amount of time and money trying to defend copyright disputes and prove the original work is theirs. These are talented, resilient women and every textile that they weave carries their unique spirit, their determination and their drive. National Movement Guatemalan Maya Weavers. However today in the Family Show in San Juan La Laguna Photography of the art is no longer allowed due to theft of the paintings of Francisco. We provide grants to our partners to purchase looms and the raw materials women need to produce and sell traditional weavings. 3. Casa Flor Ixcaco Weaving Co-Operative San Juan La Laguna. Amparo has worked with Trama for over 23 years and is based at the Trama office in Xela, coordinating the work of the 100 weavers across the highlands of Guatemala. Lema Weaving Association is tucked on the southern shoreline of Lake Atitlan is the indigenous village of San Juan La Laguna. Designs consisted of loops, lines, hanging strings, puff-balls, etc. Oralia lives in Xela with her family, and in addition to managing the Trama cooperative, she teaches weaving at the Trama office. Weaving the Threads of Dominican Spirituality, Paperback by Cabra Collective,, ISBN 1925309584, ISBN-13 9781925309584, Brand New, Free shipping in the US We are in a period celebrating the first convent of Dominican women and founding of the Dominican friars. When we arrived at TinteMaya, a woman in a yellow shirt ushered to a back patio. Not that Ive had an initial weaving experience, I would like to take the full 8-hour weaving lesson to learn more about dyeing the yard and setting up the backstrap loom. But where can you get the real dealthe most authentic and best quality goodswhile ensuring local sustainability? Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Every three months, the women gather at the shop in Quetzaltenango to review the success of Trama Textiles and to discuss potential improvements. Women's Weaving Cooperative 2023 | Powered by Shopify | Story Theme | 10-56, 3a Calle, Zona 1, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala Payment methods accepted. The material in the products from Asociacion Maya are handwoven using a backstrap loom, a very traditional method of making cloth in several parts of the world including Guatemala. All rights reserved. More Colors >. Approximate size 8by 4.5 when closed, 14 by 8 when opened. Asociacion Maya de Desarrollo is an indigenous womens weaving cooperative located in Solol, Guatemala. Youll see a sign forTinteMaya a little past the curve in the road. Predator Websites pay the Weavers $40 for a Huipil that these on-line Predator sell for $300. Lema Weaving Association represents 15 Tzutujil families who have joined together to produce unique and culturally reflective weaved items. Finding Woman to Grow Organic Cotton, others to grow, harvest and prepare the herbs for the natural dying process used to color the textiles. Perfect for your sun glasses or a cell phone. So, when we found Tinte Maya offering a weaving experience that was three hours, we reached out and set it up via Facebook (not my preferred method, but its what they have access to). They also had coffee beans for sale, which I bought as well. The economical condition of Guatemala impelled her to move to the coast and begin work as a cotton picker. The Guatemalan Maya Weavers have proposedbills seeks to reform 5 legal articles on the Law on Copyright and Related Rights, the Law on Industrial Property, the Law on Protection and Development of Crafts and the Criminal Code. Nicolas Pop also has no protection for his creative leather works. Traditionally the role of women was to remain in the home. Clearly, this dense emporium is designed for the tour buses that descend on the pueblo with the objective being: get as many tourists into the store so that they can buy as quickly as possible and then herd them back on the bus to the next quaint pueblo. Proof of copyright is absolutely necessary in an age where the publication, distribution and theft of work is so easy. Sustain MADRE's lifesaving work with our grassroots partners worldwide, Photo Update: Sewing Classes in Guatemala, Guilty: What the Sepur Zarco Trial Means for Womens Rights Worldwide, Genocide Survivors: "If We Go Forward Fighting, We Will Find Justice. Casa Flor Ixcaco Weaving Co-Operative San Juan La Laguna envisions fostering education and supporting children in San Juan La Laguna through scholarships and financial aid provided through the sales of the Handmade Textiles they produce. Hand dyed and handwoven from bamboo rayon fibres with a soft and silky feel. The bark, berries, leaves, and insects all produce a different color. Two inside pockets secured with Velcro, 4 places for cards, penholder and exterior pocket. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Noma Collective 2020. In addition to managing the cooperative, she teaches weaving at the Trama office. A local weaving cooperative of Mayan women from Lake Atitln, Guatemala support our work Volunteer - Help design our products Who we are In the heart of beautiful Guatemala lives a community of indigenous women who weave traditional clothing, handbags, shawls, and other products unique to their regions by Lake Atitln. Woman with the skills of the Back Strap Loom began organizing other woman in Villages with special skills. We work directly with 100 women from 17 weaving communities across 5 regions in the Western Highlands; Solol, Huehuetenango, Sacatepquez, Quetzaltenango and Quich. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. The commissions help support Moderately Adventurous stay alive and kicking. The brutal 36-year Guatemalan Civil War claimed 200,000 Guatemalan lives (83% of which were Mayan) and devastated the peaceful and traditional way of Mayan life. Lisa, una voluntaria de Junto con su cultura diversa, Guatemala tiene una rica herencia lingstica que ha creado varios dialectos e idiomas en el pas. We walked through the entire pueblo and didnt see a single locally-made item for sale. Noma Collective 2020. This raises income for their families. With the miscommunication, I feel like we had a deeper experience trying to figure things out. Tinte Maya is in the town of San Juan La Laguna, which has a reputation of being a quiet town focused on artisans. Any woven souvenir that youve seen in Guatemala will also be here! Share it with a friend, How Guatemalas Women Weavers Keep Mayan Tradition Alive. While the Weavers are garnering all the attention the Artisans of Guatemala also need protection which is whatEthical Fashion Guatemala Copyright protection provides for FREE. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. According to weaving cooperative Casa Flor Ixcaco, the war also resulted in the loss of 400 weaving styles. Organizations, NGOs and what we call Predator Websites became the sales channel for Weaving Cooperatives to sell products. On the whole, we enjoyed sauntering around the pueblo because there were no tourists there and its always interesting to see a new place. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. After talking back and forth, the youngest suggested that we use the current setup to create a mini wall hanging weaving. We mobilize to defend Indigenous women from systemic violence and demand justice. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Currently a project is ongoing in the community to provide a middle school education to children of the weavers. A series of small towns dot the hillsides surrounding Lake Atitlan. My posts got a little jumb, My Rogue River fashion: layers of sunscreen, wide-, Tools to Plan a Sensational Trip for Yourself. Apr 30 One Strong Woman Heads Weaving Coop in Guatemala Drive northwest from Cobn in the Altaverapaz region of Guatemala, up impossibly steep and winding roads, through stands of coffee and banana trees and lush semi-tropical foliage. We promise to send emails you will love. Tinte Maya is in the town of San Juan La Laguna, which has a reputation of being a quiet town focused on artisans. Today they are able to continue to weave publicly and many of the womens husbands help them, as for many of these families the income that comes from their weaving is now their primary source of income in the household. Your email address will not be published. To order contact us here. The problem was that both my travel partner and I could only find courses that were 8-hours or longer. Ixchel was the first weaver. Subscribe to get special offers, free giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals. Their weaving skills have been passed down through the generations from mothers to daughters and in some cases, to their sons. Guatemalan woman weavers today use the same Backstrap loom method of weaving that their mothers and grandmothers used for centuries to create beautiful textiles. Every three years, Trama hosts an assembly where all the women vote on the new presidents and update their constitution. Oh, dear! Lema Weaving Guatemala is a Guatemala Organic Yarn producer. Although I was enjoying learning how to use the backstrap loom, I had hoped to create something to display. Our cooperative was formed in 1988 after some of the most devastating years of the Guatemalan civil war. TEIXCHEL stands for Tejidos Ecolgicos de Ixchel. Miriam Navichoc of the Casa Flor Ixcaco weaving cooperative has an impressive love for familyboth her own and those in her communitywhich is core to her leadership of the cooperative. The steps I remember included: This could be slightly incorrect. After marrying and starting a family, she needed to provide financial support to her family, and returned to her weaving loom. One of the most celebrated customs is backstrap weaving, a centuries-old art form still practiced by the local women weavers in villages across modern-day Guatemala. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. Finally after about seven years they were able to gain the approval to open a storefront. Guatemala - Weaving with a Women's Cooperative in Lake Atitlan Guatemala weaving is next level. Check the TRAVEL WITH ME PAGE to see if you can join any upcoming group tours that I am planning to review.