Weaving the bright colors of the rainbow, the women of Komon Utzil create this extraordinary tablecloth. It is woven on a traditional pedal loom, which requires the combined efforts of up to three people to set it up. The tablecloth is woven with a 4320 thread warp which allows for a substantial and lasting quality.
Making a living through weaving would allow the women to stay in their communities and homes, thus maintaining their traditional life style, only better.
Meaning For the Wellbeing of All in the Maya language, Komon Utzil was founded in 1989 by a big-hearted Guatemalan... anthropologist who prefers to remain unnamed. She was touched by the generosity the local women showed her but, at the same time, she was distressed over the lack of opportunities they had to earn an income. She decided she wanted to give these women something back, something useful. It seemed to her that there could be a way for the women to earn money with their one marketable skill – weaving.
Not only are their textiles uniquely beautiful, but they are integral to their culture. Making a living through weaving would allow the women to stay in their communities and homes, thus maintaining their traditional life style, only better. Finding markets seemed like a good option that would meet all the above criteria. Her husband (since deceased) was a good businessman who helped her to get it all started.
Since its inception, Komon Utzil has worked in more than a dozen communities around the western and northern highlands of Guatemala, organized in groups from 12 to 50 women. They presently provide fair trade work to approximately 200 women. As an NGO with five employees in Guatemala, they work to assist the women with product design, quality control, and marketing.
Two field workers, both Maya women, work in the communities and are in constant contact with the women, making sure that not only are the products up to established standards, but that the groups themselves are functioning well.
To help the women with up-front expenses, Komon Utzil provides all the yarn and materials needed. The women deliver their work in a period of six weeks and they are paid for it in full, as well as for the materials they used.
While Komon Utzil is about providing work, the NGO is also part of a consortium that provides classes and workshops to Komon Utzil women and others in four areas on artisan techniques, small business skills, women's health, and democracy and organization.
Deborah C., director of the NGO in Guatemala and one of the women with the most incredible sense of humor, says, We have gone through many difficulties in these years. Hurricane Stan comes to my mind. It buried the village of one of our groups in a mudslide and, even though close to 1,000 people were buried alive, we lost only one family from the group. That week we suddenly became an emergency aid agency for approximately 40 families. While our women and their families were not killed, they were plenty traumatized. Over the next year or more, with help from many friends, we provided a lot of material help — stoves, clothing, toys (the group had 94 children in all), beds, a psychologist, cash, new looms, etc. In the end, we were able to give each family a substantial amount of money to put into their new homes because their old ones were all destroyed or damaged, whatever or wherever they were. But best of all was that the women knew that when they were ready to work again, the work was waiting, so they still had a future to look forward to.
Changing subjects, we've had lots of great moments too! Here's one that is a little bit funny, also very telling. Our first field worker was working with a group who for some reason had made the same coin purses they had been making for years a quarter of an inch bigger than ever before. Mystified, she asked why, and was told that that was what the order said — 8, which she read as 8 plus two lines on the measuring tape. Of course. What we are reminded of constantly is that women who have had little or no schooling do not know things the rest of us take for granted, like that two little lines up high means inches.
We are excited to be working with you and the chance to expand awareness of the beautiful textiles woven by Komon Utzil women, the sales of which help the women to lift themselves out of the unrelenting poverty that tries to hold them down. With your help and that of Komon Utzil, the women are winning the battle.
Only valid on the Normal shipping option for shipments to 48 Lower US states.
Discounted shipping price may not be applied to previous orders.
This item ships with a free artist storycard, so you can remember who you impacted today. Customized gift messages are also available with every order.
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This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Artists love to get backorders. Placing a backorder ensures that the artisan will do their best to create and deliver your item to our local office for shipment.
Although we cannot guarantee availability, we do expect to be able to fill the order within the timeframe indicated. But sometimes life happens - special materials may not be immediately available to the artist, or there might be some other circumstance beyond our control that could delay the shipment.
If for any reason we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will notify you.
In the unlikely even that we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will contact you and provide an updated delivery window.
This item has a special shipping flat fee which means that due to bulk, duties, or other special requirements, the item will be shipped to you via one of our special one-rate services. Shipping is only available to the United States (lower 48 States only).
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
BUST
35 - 36
37 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
WAIST
27 - 28
29 - 30
31 - 33
34 - 36
38 - 40
HIPS
37 - 38
39 - 40
42 - 43
45 - 46
49 - 50
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
CHEST
36 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
50 - 52
WAIST
30 - 32
32 - 34
35 - 37
38 - 41
43 - 45
NECK
14 - 14.5
15 - 15.5
16 - 16.5
17 - 17.5
18 - 18.5
SLEEVE
32.5
33.5
34.5
35.5
36.5
FINDING YOUR SIZE
Take your measurements with the tape measure over your under garments. If your measurements fall between sizes you may prefer the next larger size. Inseam, skirt and dress lengths vary by style and will be listed in the item description. Our sweaters are knit in standard American sizes, however actual measurements vary by style.
BUST / CHEST
Measure around the fullest part of chest under the arms and over the shoulder blades keeping the tape measure level.
WAIST
Measure around the smallest part of the waist keeping the tape measure comfortably loose. Most garments use the low waist measurement noted below.
LOW WAIST
Measure around the body approximately 1.5" below the natural waist (above). This is the area where most pants and skirts actually fit.
HIPS
Standing with your heels together, measure around the fullest part of the body approx 7"-8" below the waist.
NECK
Measure around the base of the neck keeping the tape measure comfortably loose.
SLEEVE
Bend elbow slightly and starting at the center back of the neck, measure across the shoulder, to the elbow and down to the wrist.
INSEAM
Our standard inseam length for women is 32" and 34" for men; however inseam measurements will vary slightly by style.
Belts with buckles are measured in inches that correspond to a waist size however, most people do not wear belts on the waist, they wear them closer to the hips. A buckle belt measurement is take from the end of the "pin" of the buckle to the middle hole on the belt. Generally there are 5 holes for size adjustment, with a 1" space between each, so the middle hole will the be average size of the belt.
For at tie belt (no buckle) measure the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This again is the medium size of the belt.
For a soft fabric tie belt it can be called "1 size fits most" and the entire length of the belt should be measured and listed.
See buckle/tie belt size standards below.
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
inches
26 - 30
28 - 32
31 - 35
34 - 38
38 - 42
cm
76 - 86
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
inches
30 - 34
32 - 36
35 - 39
39 - 43
43 - 47
cm
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
109 - 119
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
Sash tie length
Lay sash/tie out flat away from the garment and measure from end to end.
Belt with buckle
Measure from the end of the pin of the buckle (where it touches the buckle) to the middle hole.
Belt without buckle
Measure from the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This is will give you the medium size of the belt.
Download our printable ring sizing chart to find the perfect fit!
We refer to these items as "discounted wholesale". Such items carry a deeper wholesale discount than other items, and have greater potential to provide your business with healthier resale margins.
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Handmade goods from developing nations usually pass through a series of intermediaries before being purchased by retail consumers. Each of these intermediaries adds cost to the product, and that cost is passed on to the customer. UNICEF USA partnered with NOVICA, who works directly with artists through their regional offices in Asia, Africa and Latin America, allowing purchases from UNICEF Market to go directly from the artisans to fulfilling customer orders. By skipping steps in the traditional supply chain, you can buy high quality items for less than the regular retail prices.
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