With all the talk about the economy these days, it has been mentioned that sewing is making a resurgence because it is less expensive to mend something than to buy a new something.  In this country, sewing and quilting are now looked upon as luxury hobbies- but there are still people in this world who create textiles in order to sustain the lives of their children and themselves.

Trama Textiles is a cooperative of over 400 indigenous Guatemalan women who use backstrap looms to make handmade textiles that are then sold in their own country and online.  These women are a part of a people who have faced severe hardship, war, and genocide that almost no one in the U.S. knows about.  And how are they dealing with it?  They are weaving.

To these women textiles mean food.  Textiles mean an education for their children.  I’m involved with a project to raise awareness about Trama Textiles in one of my classes at Stephens College in Columbia, MO.  My group is organizing an event at Orr Street Studios that will showcase examples of Trama’s work in different stages of production, and educate people about how these women work to make these beautiful cloths.

An exact date and time for the event is coming soon, hopefully by October’s club.  At club, we will also be accepting donations to Trama Textiles.  These donations go toward scholarship funds and the purchase of supplies.  Please know that any donation, no matter what amount, is extremely appreciated.

Take a look at their website, www.tramatextiles.org to see just how beautiful the products are – let us know what your favorites are in the comment section and we’ll try to get them in for our event in November.