Handwoven Striped Cotton Cosmetic Bag from El Salvador, "Straight Paths"

"We are a group of women who craft handbags. The Women Leaders of La Colorada was founded in January 2010 in El Salvador after some doctors from the US visited us and learned that we had limited income opportunities. This led one of the doctors to teach us how to create bags and other accessories.

"We learned how to sew and eventually found a workspace. We were four women and although two of our original members have retired, we're now five. Three of us are single mothers. I'm 47 and have an 18-year old son," Maura Sarmiento explains. "I came to this group after one of the original members retired and she recommended me, so I accepted immediately. I had never had a job and was nervous about joining but, thankfully, they helped and trained me to make bags and wallets.

"This opportunity to be part of the project has been a blessing. Group members have a job and earn our own money, which has helped our families. Our workplace is nearby so we don't have to pay bus fares to get to work.

"We're women who have had to work hard to get ahead in life, but God has always illuminated our path and put incredible people in our lives who have helped us.

"We live on an island where it's difficult for women to find work, but we learned that by combining our efforts and dreams, we could create wonderful things, new opportunities and, together, we could unlock doors. We want to reach more people and leave a little piece of ourselves in another part of the world.

"Our mission is to create quality handbags that shoppers will like.

"Starting out was difficult since we're pretty isolated here and very far from the capital. We had trouble communicating with our first clients, but we were able to overcome our obstacles and are a very solid group.

"Thanks to our efforts, we were able to open our own workshop, which makes us very proud. Together we've learned that nothing is impossible and, once we trust our dreams, we can achieve many things. We are the providers for our households. We don't need to rely on anyone and what could be better than creating beautiful handbags?"