"In Mexico, there's a lot of debate about who the creation belongs to, especially in regards to designs that come from traditional communities versus those produced by brands. With the exception of Vero and one Mexican woman who spearheads marketing, the staff is composed of indigenous women. There is also a playroom for the women's children. Meals and transportation are provided for so that the women can attend the monthly meetings. Everything is well thought out so that they are made to feel welcome in a convivial space that breathes fairness and equality. The association holds professional training workshops and literacy courses for the women to learn. By offering these marginalized women a space to work where they can express themselves, a quality of life to reclaim their dignity, and a structure that fosters professionalism, they gain a sense of ownership. Because of the strong class contrast and marginalization in Mexico, their opportunities were usually limited to domestic help or cleaning services. There is also a spiritual connection that transpires between the weavers, myself, and their weaving."įor a long time, indigenous women were considered as a sub-race. "There is perfection and balance in these women's weaving, and as natural effect of one's mastery over the art, they derive pleasure in excellence. Through her art, we bring her to light," reflects Veronique, known affectionately as Vero. "By proposing to work with a woman's skillset and highlighting it, we talk about the woman. For over two decades, this foundation has provided the strength, consistency and the resilience for El Camino to create together as a collective. That is the philosophy that has been fostered amongst the women since the association's inception. The tradition of Pre-hispanic weaving as solely a feminine activity is still preserved in Chiapas, whereas in other places in Mexico, men also weave using different techniques such as the pedal loom." Their skill is something that has been passed down from mother to daughter. "The Mayan women have been weaving for thousands of years. And in respect for each community's expertise, the association develops its collection around those skillsets, using backstrap loom weaving. If we give the women chairs, they simply push them away." All the women live near El Camino de Los Altos' work center in the surrounding mountains and weave at home so their normal way of life is not deconstructed.Įl Camino's women come from five municipalities, each with its unique savoir-faire. "We must consider all details such as respecting their close connection to the earth. For Veronique Tesseraud, a texile designer and the founding president of El Camino, the garden is an important element because the Mayan women live outdoors in nature and their daily activity transpires on the ground. In the old town of San Cristóbal de las Casas, situated 2,200 meters up in the mountain, a garden graces the work center of El Camino de Los Altos where the women gather. At the heart of their partnership is a collective desire: to preserve and transmit the ancient Mayan art of backstrap loom weaving while improving the living conditions and leveraging the value of Mayan women weavers through a thoughtfully-conceived professional and personal growth plan. The 130 Mayan women weavers of the Mexican civil association El Camino de Los Altos and the women designers of its French counterpart, El Camino, have been weaving a remarkable "institution" for the past twenty years. Born from a deep-seated conviction and a desire to eradicate inequality, its rigor, consistency and steadfast vision for solidarity has been built over time. In the state of Chiapas in Mexico, a Mayan region adjacent to the Guatemalan border, a project by women for women transcends the mere act of making products or operating a business. Yet, why and how we do it, is what determines the true degree of its impact. The growing surge of socially impactful collaboration is a positive trend of our time.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |