Unique Batik

www.uniquebatik.us

Unique Batik Artisans in Pakistan

We are a small business that makes a big impact.  We work with artisans in the developing world  (many of whom have perfected the traditional crafts of their ancestors) to bring these unique pieces of art to open markets.  Unique Batik is a Fair Trade wholesaler of clothes, bags, jewelry and accessories.  In business since 1991, we now have partnerships with artisans in Guatemala, Ghana, Thailand and Pakistan.  Fair Trade means our artisans are guaranteed fair wages, sustainable relationships and safe working conditions that are free from discrimination and forced child labor.  What makes Unique Batik different is its commitment to working alongside artisans to design beautiful products that meet demand in the developed world. 

Location:  Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Memberships:  Fair Trade Federation

Languages spoken:  English and Spanish

Fair Trade Products from Around the World

Tags:  Fair Trade, recycled, hand-dyed, batik, woven, bead work, comalapa, corte,  ikat, traditional crafts, embroidery.

MayaMam Weavers

www.mayamamweavers.etsy.com

Maya Mam Weavers

We are a group of Maya Mam women from the town of Cajolá in Guatemala. (Mam is one of the 21 different ethnic Maya groups in Guatemala.) For us Maya, weaving has been a way for thousands of years to express our identity, our love of beauty and to relay the wisdom of our ancestors. Our ancestors left an extraordinary legacy to us and to all of humanity -- a vision of the universe that allows us to know our place in that universe and that guides our lives in harmony with every other person’s purpose in life so that we all develop to our full potential.

Our group began when several of us came together to talk about common problems. We identified lack of income as our major need, and began to learn to weave (on a foot loom – many of us already weave on our traditional backstrap loom) and to sew on pedal sewing machines. Our goal is to create products inspired by our traditions --  weaving our ancient wisdom into our textiles, but now designed to share with the people of the U.S.

Mission:  Inspired by our traditional weaving and cosmovision, we are creating products designed for the U.S. market. Each product includes a small teaching from our cosmovision. In this way we can continue the traditions of our ancestors as well as share their wisdom with others. 

Location:  Cajola, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

Online shop:  mayamamweavers
Blog:  handmade with maya wisdom
Social media:  Facebook group 

Languages spoken: Spanish, English, Mam

 Celebration Basket Liner, Handwoven by MayaMam Weavers

Tags:  hand woven, handwoven, hand embroidered, backstrap loom, Fair Trade products, Mayan textiles,  embroidered pillows

Little Mango Imports

www.littlemangoimports.com

Little Mango Imports offers textiles and handicrafts from all over the world, including Guatemala, Panama, Mexico, Ecuador, and Indonesia. Our primary focus is the beautiful and colorful hand woven fabric and Maya dress of Guatemala. We offer a large selection of colors and designs to choose from.

Little Mango Imports is an internet based business operated by myself, Whitney Taylor. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder in International Affairs and Economics. I am often asked how I became involved in the import business. I have worked for my parents (www.HappyMangoBeads.com) for several years. They have been in the import/export business since I can remember. This has allowed me to travel throughout the world to such places as Morocco, Indonesia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and extensively throughout Latin America. Through this experience I have learned how to interact with and conduct business with people of other cultures, something I truly enjoy. I am also a high school ski racing coach and active in the Martial Arts and CrossFit communities.

-Whitney Taylor

Location: Lyons, Colorado, USA
Online store: Little Mango Imports

Blog: Little Mango Imports
Twitter

Languages spoken: English, Spanish
Contact

Handwoven Guatemalan fabric from Little Mango Imports

Little Mango Imports on Facebook

Tags: Guatemalan Fabric, Huipil, Corte, Batik, Jaspe Fabric, Ikat Fabric, Maya Fabric