MATHILDE is the bag you'll never want to take off. And luckily you won't have to, because she can be worn in three different ways. The straps can be adjusted to turn the MATHILDE into a backpack, crossbody, or shoulder bag. MATHILDE is the small sister of our big AMELIA convertible day bag.
MATHILDE is super versatile and has a roomy interior. If you are looking to invest in a high-quality bag, that you will use daily, she is the one! And the best, she is one-of-a-kind.
MATHILDE is made by hand; she is crafted out of best quality full-grain leather and beautiful artisan vintage fabrics - handwoven by the indigenous women in Guatemala. The patterns and the symbols on her textile are complex and have a deep meaning that goes back to the ancient Maya. The weaver women who made her put so much love into her, that you can feel the human touch. She is not just a bag; she is a real piece of art with a soul.
So elegant and casual at the same time, thanks to her vintage vibe and modern design. A special bag for a special lady!
Each of Mayalla’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 human art, they are appreciated.
We support the Guatemalan community by purchasing their beautiful handmade textiles for fair prices from the weavers on the local markets. It is very important to us that they are paid fairly for their hard work. That’s why the artisans themselves set their prices. We are giving you - the consumer - the opportunity to show social responsibility by shopping in Ethical Stores like Mayalla. Read more here.
We have sustainably sourced all our textiles from our local weavers in Guatemala on the markets in Chichicastenango, Antigua and Panajachel.
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.
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 "a place where the water springs up".
Its 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 that represents the universe. The diamond was one of the most important symbols for the ancient Mayas. Geometric bands represent lightning and arrows in rich colors. Sometimes brocade includes also flower and bird motifs.
H: 27 cm - 10.6 in
W: 38 cm - 14.9 in
D: 12 cm - 4.7 in
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