Small Bag with Flap
This funky bag was made using cotton fabric woven on the traditional backstrap loom. The bag features a front flap with magnetic closure. The main compartment has a zippered closure and the interior is lined and has a zippered pocket. The back has another zippered pocket and two loops so that you could loop the bag on to your belt. The strap is chain, giving the bag an edgy look.
Purse measurements: approximately10" wide, 8 1/2" high and opens to 1".
This fair trade purse was a collaboration between two artisan groups, La Estrella and Ruth and Nohemi. La Estrella is a group of eight Kaqchiquel Mayan weavers from the rural community of ChuaCruz, Guatemala. The artisan group was formed in the early 1980's in order to support the widows who lost their husbands during the Civil War. They work on backstrap & foot looms.
Ruth and Nohemi was founded in 1986 after the bombings in the community of Chontala, near Chichicastenango by a Methodist pastor and tailor. By using the weaving from the war widows and by teaching their sons to sew, the whole family benefited. The boys received scholarships to attend school, and the widows received improvements to their homes and were able to send their children to school with their increased income. This group supports several artisan groups and community projects with the profits from the sale of their products.
