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
- Dark brown 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
The textile of this bag is a “huipil” (Guatemalan blouse) and comes from the village Chichicastenango, a town in the Guatemalan highlands which is known for its huge textile market and indigenous Maya culture. Its inhabitants dress daily with their colorful handwoven huipils. A new huipil can cost them easily a 2 months’ salary. The indigenous weavers are using the technique of loom and wool on a portable backstrap-loom to create their traditional dresses, which take 1-4 months to complete. The threads are usually naturally dyed by seeds and plants.
The huipil of Chichicastenango usually consists out of four different embroidered parts, depicting the four seasons of the Mayan calendar and a sun which is embroidered around the neckline. However, if a woman loses her husband, she wouldn’t wear a costume with a sun around her neck, because she would have lost her sun. The huipils here are characterized by colorful geometric, flower and bird patterns, a lot of pink with contrasting color accents, diamonds and zigzags. The flowers symbolize traditionally the cycle of birth, death and regeneration. And stand for the woman’s fecundity and they seem to connect to the spiritual realm. The zigzag patterns represent the serpents. which were a very important religious and social symbol for the Maya.
According to their mythology the serpents are the vehicles by which the stars and sun cross the heaven. They also stand for renewal and rebirth. The bird with a long tail is another prominent Mayan motif, representing Guatemala’s national bird, the Quetzal. The brocade design often presents a cross and a distinctive double headed eagle motif, symbolizing the great god of two faces: one views the good and the other view the evil. Huipil from Chichicastenango usually show V shaped patterns along with the triangles representing the god Gucumatz, or the “feathered serpent”. He is said to be the creator of the universe in the Mayan context. It symbolizes the hills where the wind originates and is also linked to the ups and downs of the life of women.
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!
