Help Guatemalan Women Launch a Clothing Business

AFEDES organized a series of training workshops for women who did not previously know how to weave. The excitement of the TUPUEDES Store and its benefits to indigenous women had spread quickly throughout the local communities, and many women were expressing a high-level of desire to join this clothing business but lacked the necessary weaving skills. AFEDES did not want these enthusiastic women to miss out on an entrepreneurial opportunity. This was also a good opportunity to involve the daughters of AFEDES’ members in the project. Passing the weaving skill to the next generation ensures the preservation of the Mayan culture in traditional clothing and indigenous textiles.

The ongoing weaving workshops started in June 2006, and are led by six of AFEDES’ members who have extensive experience in weaving. Once they master basic weaving skills, participants are given the task of creating a sample of the different designs that are used in traditional blouses (güipiles). The participants’ final homework is to make a small güipil or a piece of clothing of their choice. This way, these new weavers can begin creating their own designs. Those who display a sufficient level of skill are invited to join the TUPUEDES project.

At least 20 women from Santiago Sacatepéquez and Santa Maria Cauqué have graduated from these workshops, and 20 more are on their way. Participants have been very enthusiastic about learning how to weave, to the point where they have even arranged to meet outside of the training series to practice weaving together.