Squares of espresso divided by claret red bars adorn the surface of this jewelry roll, which is woven by hand on the backstrap loom from 100% cotton. The jewelry roll is crafted by Cojolya Association, which gives work to local Guatemalan women. The roll opens with a ceramic button to reveal a cotton lining, with a large open pocket and three zipper pockets for storing smaller pieces of jewelry.
Made in Guatemala
100% cotton, ceramic button. Cotton lining
Features a button closure
Hand wash in cold water
Lay flat to dry
Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
The name Cojolya is taken from an ancient Maya settlement. Legend recounts it was here that the Tzutujil Maya artists and sculptors bought their creations to life.
The Cojolya Association of Mayan Women Weavers is a non-profit organization located in the Tzutujil community on the... shores of the world-famous Lake Atitlan. Since 1985, Cojolya has been providing sustainable, fair trade work to some 80 women who weave using the traditional back strap loom. They have seen their efforts translated into economic stability and enhanced quality of life for their families.
The women were born and raised in a Maya community known as the "Bird People." When they were four years old they began to follow in the footsteps of their grandmothers who wove on back strap looms in the patios of their family compounds. They would turn the skeins of threads into balls which their mothers used in warping their weaves. A young girl's first weave is a simple stoij or small head cloth, which is rolled up and used to balance a load on one's head.
A young woman's skill is honed until her huipiles (blouses) are adorned with her complex brocades, becoming the envy of the community. The detailed brocades represent the volcanoes, flowers, birds and other animals, and often include symbolic geometric shapes. The brocade was created by Tzutujil women weavers in the early 1930s, when colored threads became readily available. A woman with such skill is in demand to make the finest huipiles for the women of the town.
The Cojolya Association was founded by American designer Candis E. Krummel and Tzutujil Mayan, Antonio Ramirez Sosof, who shared a mission to help preserve and encourage this ancient Mayan tradition of back strap loom and provide work for local women. "Arriving in Santiago Atitlan in 1978 on a rainy October night, I awoke the next morning to a gloriously sunny morning, brilliant with raindrops catching the light on every leaf and frond. The tranquil lake was a deep blue, a mirror for the lofty volcanoes at arm's reach from the door of my hotel. The ancient stone streets were peopled with Maya men dressed in purple and white striped pants and elegant women in their hand woven, brocaded huipiles decorated with fantasy birds embroidered in a rainbow of color. Surely I was still dreaming...the beauty of the people and place was surreal. I am Candis Krummel and this was my introduction to the Bird People or the Tzutujil Maya who live on the south shore of Lake Atitlan. No doubt I was enchanted by the magic, as I never left Santiago Atitlan, and some 32 years later still live and design with the women weavers and their back strap looms. Together we create Cojolya's line of women's accessories, plus custom textiles for interiors, and more recently a new line of 'art to wear.' In the ensuing years, I have been privileged to have the opportunity to design with back strap loom weavers in many villages in Guatemala, as well as with Maya women artisans working in a variety of traditional crafts in Quintana Roo, Mexico. I am presently designing with artisans in the Dominican Republic."
Each product is meticulously designed by Candis, fusing the skills and techniques of the Mayan loom with color, form, texture, and movement. Combining the finest, eco-conscious materials and innovative textile designs inspired by nature and art, Cojolya creates woven designer accessories, showcasing the structure and diversity of the back strap loom in a style not seen anywhere else in Guatemala. Cojolya collections are inspired by the beauty of the surrounding nature, the colors found deep in the cloud forests on the high slopes of the nearby volcanoes. Their inspiration also springs from other art forms, such as the stained glass work of Louis Comfort Tiffany, and even the sophisticated, urbane look of Italian fashion. These textile creations are a fusion of ancient techniques and contemporary fashion, forming unique, individually-woven, fair trade products.
With the opening of a small museum that places back strap loom-weaving on a merited pedestal, the weavers have come to understand that their work deserves the attention and admiration of a world audience. In spite of this and the fact that Cojolya Association is a fair trade organization (which means that their earnings are on a par with teachers' salaries), very few young women are learning to weave today. This art form is now more threatened than ever! In a time of shrinking economic opportunities for young people in Guatemala, a strong Cojolya Association can continue to provide a viable career option for women, bringing more young women to participate in the ancient tradition of back strap loom weaving.
"Since 2006, we've been involved in an environmental and health project, where a percentage of our sales supports the installation of Onil stoves for the families in the area, making them more conscious of environmental care and as a result of having less smoke - less pollution - improving health and quality of life, for these stoves use three times less wood than regular fires, so fewer trees are cut in an area that is suffering from deforestation."
The name Cojolya is taken from an ancient Maya settlement. Legend recounts it was here that the Tzutujil Maya artists and sculptors bought their creations to life. It is regarded as a magical place of transformation from vision to finished product or work of art.
The Cojolya Association mission is to be dedicated to the preservation of the ancient art of Maya back strap loom weaving and the traditions surrounding it – not just as a historic relic, but as a viable economic enterprise for the women who weave.
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.
We want you to be 100% satified with your order, so if you are not completely happy with your item, you can return it within 60 days of receiving it.
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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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