Y’abal Handicrafts brings colour and hope

Y’abal means “hope” in a Maya language, and the Maya women in the countryside in Guatemala, participating in the fairtrade organization Y’abal Handicrafts are hoping to build a better living and future. That’s the story in a nutshell, and I could now go on to show the products (which I will, don’t worry!), but first I want to tell you about Marisha Maas. Because at Grazzhopprz we’re always inspired by a good story…

In 2007, Marisha left for Guatemala to work as a volunteer for five months. During this period, she and another Dutch woman, who had lived there for a couple of years already, initiated project Y’abal Handicrafts, meant to generate a fair income out of the tradition of backstrap looming. The richness of the colours, the traditional skills put into the handicrafts, and the sober life style of the Maya artisans touched her enough to want to take the project one step further; both literally by bringing the products to the Netherlands (that’s a giant leap geographically speaking!) and as a step in her career, where she turned this voluntary project into her daily business. And thus, after a couple of years of preparation, the Dutch branch of the organization – Y’abal Handicrafts Nederland – was born, with its own webshop to serve the European market.

By now you are probably all curious about the products, so let’s not keep you waiting any longer, here are some examples:

Picture: Y’abal Handicrafts

Picture: Y’abal Handicrafts

Picture: Y’abal Handicrafts

Yes, you can tell that the aspects that first attracted Marisha are well represented here: colour and tradition – combined in a trendy way! The producers are women, around 80 of them, divided into four groups, each with their own background and challenges and all of them hoping to build a better future through traditional work.

I asked Marisha if she wanted to tell us about the present stage of the project and her future plans with it. And this was her reply:

“Sure, I’d be happy to tell you about where we are right now and where we’re heading. In only four years time, the project has come far – realizing it all started from scratch, with unorganized women who had never woven for a foreign (and hence, more demanding) market and who, for instance, literally not knew what a centimeter was. But a varied series of workshops and seminars have improved their weaving techniques and their internal organization, enhanced their communicative and business skills, and empowered these women. Over the past few years, Y’abal Handicrafts has grown into a professional international organization with a unique product assortment of the highest quality. But the story does not stop there, clearly. In Guatemala the empowerment of the Maya women continues: recently a new series of training started – this time in sewing, so in the future they can make their own products to sell in the local market.

Picture: Y’abal Handicrafts

In the Netherlands, we have just started a cooperation with “Mode met een Missie”, a social project meant to provide women here with better chances on the Dutch labour market, also by teaching them how to sew. Thus, both in Guatemala and in the Netherlands, Y’abal Handicrafts aims to improve women’s participation and position in society. And besides this mission, “people”, the project recently also added mission “planet” to its field of engagement: as we speak, the weavers in Guatemala are being taught how to dye the threads with natural materials (carrot, mulberry, bark, even sow-bug!). Soon, the products in the yabal-shop are not “just” fairtrade but ecological as well”

Picture: Y’abal Handicrafts

In other words: plenty of reasons to check out this shop! Thanks Marisha, for sharing your story and good luck with your great initiative(s)!

Tove Antonissen