Temux Mayan Artisans

This page is a temporary presentation of samples of the work done by the women living in Temux Grande in Guatemala. Though they make many different types of handicrafts, the Temuxense are best know for their morrales, or traditional Guatemalan shoulder bags. They are made by hand from acrylic thread, using a crochet hook. The local Mayans use these sturdy bags to carry food from the market, books to school, firewood from the forest, you name it. They are extremely thick and durable, with a hand-woven strap that is adjustable with a simple knot-and-loop arrangement. The bags are made in a wide array of sizes, festooned with intricate designs and patterns. Like all Guatemalan textiles, they use every color in the rainbow- often on the same bag.

The Temux Mayan Artisans co-op is a new project, started in 2009 with the assistance of Peace Corps volunteers Emily and Jaime Fanjoy. The goal is to provide the women of Temux with a market for their handicrafts beyond their little valley, escaping the already-flooded local market. By bringing in extra income, they can afford to better feed their children and ensure they stay in school. The work is pursued according to a fair trade system, where only adults may perform the work (to keep kids in school), and only the women who performed the work are paid (to avoid opportunistic middlemen).

We hope you enjoy looking at this brief portfolio of their work. If you click on any of the photos, it will open a larger version in a new window. If you have any questions or are interested in becoming a sales outlet for Temux Mayan Artisans, please email Emily at emily@hiddentower.com.

-Emily and Jaime Fanjoy, Peace Corps Guatemala

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