Handwoven Green and Teal Geometric Motif Cotton Belt Bag, "Swift Passage"

Update (July, 2019)

“I met NOVICA a little over a year ago. Working a new avenue of sales seemed phenomenal to me, allowing us to become more familiar with each one of our pieces. I did not think twice, but said ‘yes.’

“I come from a family dedicated to textiles; each sale and opportunity to share our work is vital. My family is my motivation to get ahead every day, seeing colors around me and continuing to create bags and clutches worthy of every woman.

“Since we started working with NOVICA, we have had the opportunity to provide employment for seven women in the community of Zinacantan in the state of Chiapas. One of the reasons that my family’s tradition is returning is precisely because of the preservation of textiles on the backstrap loom. It is an art that has been disappearing, and I believe that my mission is to conserve it as much as possible.

“We want to continue growing and sharing this beautiful tradition of the backstrap loom with all of our clients and fans of Mexican handicrafts. I started alone and now have seven people helping me. We want to strive for more.”

Original Artisan Story

"I'm Luz Gonzales from a small Maya town in Mexico. I've loved the handicrafts of our village for as long as I can remember — their shapes and colors. But it wasn't until I was a teen that I decided to practice and learn.

"All my life, I've seen threads and yarns, and an incredible diversity of colors everywhere. The flowers in the gardens of people's homes and on the hillsides are the main inspiration for our textile arts here. I learned to weave and embroider thanks to my mother and my aunts.

"My grandmothers and the whole family have always worked in textiles and embroidery, and they're my inspiration, This is craft that makes me remember y roots and fills me with pride to be able to weave and embroider.

"I use cotton and weave the fabric on a backstrap loom. Once woven, I embroider it.

"I love combining colors because you can play with and end up with extraordinary designs.

"My greatest challenge is satisfying shoppers and helping them appreciate the work that goes into our work.

"There are so many flowers that grow in Zinacantan, where I live and they inspire all the artisans here. They appear on almost all my designs. I also like the shapes of the mountains, and even my moods are expressed through color.

"My most important goal is one I work toward every day — I want to preserve our culture and our traditions. I want to share a glimpse of our religious beliefs and our folklore in this Maya community where I live and work.

"I want with all my heart to continue finding opportunities and generate work for women who are in school. I want to support them in their dreams like they've supported mine."