VALERIA TOTE BAG
DESCRIPTION
UNIQUENESS – HANDMADE
Each of Mayella’s products is beautifully unique. We are proud that no piece will be exactly the same as another, since they are all handmade. A product that is not factory fabricated, that has human touch and is special, a real masterpiece! Please be aware that some of our products may have natural markings and imperfections, which should not be considered a fault. These imperfections make the piece special and a human art, they are appreciated.
ETHICAL IMPACT
We support the Guatemalan community with purchasing their beautiful handmade textiles for fair prices from the weavers on the local markets. It is very important to us that the they are paid fairly for their hard work. That’s why the artisans themselves set their price. We are giving you - the consumer - the opportunity to show social responsibility by shopping in Ethical Stores like Mayalla. Read more here.
SUSTAINABILITY
We have sustainably sourced all our textiles from our local weavers in Guatemala on the markets in Chichicastenango, Antigua and Panajachel.
EMBRACING CULTURES
We want to show the world the rich Guatemalan culture by sharing its indigenous handcrafted fabrics and traditions with the world. And explaining the meanings of their traditional textiles and other ancient traditions. Many people have never heard of Guatemala, so we see it as our challenge to change that!
Please note that due to different color settings on the device displays, the color of the leather and textile that you receive may not exactly match what you see on your screen. However, we try our best to provide accurate photos of our products that closely match their actual color.
DETAILS
- Handmade
- Made in Guatemala
- Black full grain leather (Each bag varies slightly in texture and color)
- 100% handwoven vintage cotton fabric body (There may be color variations)
- Two handles
- Top zip closure, YKK Zippers
- One inner pocket with zip closure
- Two inner pockets, open
- Golden Metal hardware
GIFT
- Signature leather pom pom (in color of the bag)
- Beige textile cover bag
- Handwoven textile card
- Handmade doll
- Description & meaning of textile
TEXTILE
“Almolonga Huipil" the Guatemalan Blouse – Handwoven Textile
The textile of this bag is a “huipil” (Guatemalan blouse) and comes from the village Almolonga, a small town in a long and narrow valley in the department of Quetzaltenango in Guatemala. Its inhabitants dress daily with their colorful handwoven huipils. A new huipil can cost them easily a 2 months’ salary. It’s huipils are woven on a backstrap loom and take 1-4 months to complete. Thanks to its very fine weave of 100% cotton, the garments last for generations and the quality never fades.
Almolonga’s hot springs and rich volcanic soil make it a very fertile place for agriculture, it is also known as the “orchard of the country”. It is famous for its picturesque markets and it is the most important trade center for fresh products in all Central America. Almolonga is a Quiche speaking town and its ancient name, Molon'ya, translates as "place where the water springs up". It’s huipils are brocaded with geometrical and zigzag patterns in different colors such as pink, green, blue, purple, orange-gold, black and white. These zigzag designs signify mountains, which provide clean air and protection from sickness. The huipils from Almolonga usually feature a very intricate brocade of diamonds, a symbol which represents the universe. The diamond was one of the most important symbols for the ancient Mayas. Geometric bands represent lightnings and arrows in rich colors. Sometimes brocade include also flower and bird motifs.
MEASUREMENTS
H: 28 cm - 11 in
W: 41 cm - 16 in
D: 15 cm - 5.9 in
SHIPPING
FREE Shipping! It usually takes around 10 to 14 business days!
