Welcome to Trama Textiles

Weaving a Future: The Story of Trama Textiles

Trama Textiles is a women’s weaving association based in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. We are a collective of 150 Indigenous women from five distinct regions — Sololá, Huehuetenango, Quiché, Sacatepéquez, and Quetzaltenango — each with unique cultural traditions, colors, and weaving techniques. What connects us is more than thread and Mayan textiles: it’s a shared commitment to preserving our ancestral knowledge and creating opportunities for our families and communities.

Our story begins in the aftermath of Guatemala’s brutal 36-year civil war — a conflict that left countless families grieving, and many women as sole providers. In response to this reality, we came together in solidarity, determined to rebuild not only our livelihoods, but our dignity. We founded Trama Textiles to ensure that traditional Mayan backstrap weaving would remain not just a cultural expression, but also a path to economic empowerment.

In Guatemala, many Indigenous women face systemic challenges — limited access to education, language barriers, and few formal job opportunities. Spanish is often not our first language; for many of us, it is K’iche’, Kaqchikel, or Mam — the languages of our ancestors. In this context, weaving is more than a skill. It is a bridge: a way for us to support our children’s education, gain financial independence, and participate in the world on our own terms.

Each piece we create is woven by hand, using a traditional backstrap loom that has been used by Mayan women for centuries. The loom itself is simple — tied to a tree or post and wrapped around the back of the weaver — but the results are intricate, vibrant, and deeply symbolic. Every design holds meaning: our textiles tell stories of mountains, rivers, harvests, and the sacred cycles of life.

Trama is more than a cooperative — it is a movement. We are committed to fair trade principles and work without middlemen, so that all profits go directly to our artisans. This ensures fair wages and honors the time, effort, and creativity behind every textile. Our members work from their homes, in their own communities, and are empowered to balance their roles as mothers, daughters, and creators.

We also operate a physical store and educational center in the city of Quetzaltenango (Xela), both places  you can get to know by clicking here, where visitors can shop our collections, meet the women behind the work, and take weaving classes to learn about the art form firsthand. We believe that education fosters respect, and through workshops, storytelling, and cultural exchange, we build bridges between worlds.

When you support Trama Textiles, you’re not just purchasing a product. You’re investing in women’s empowerment, cultural preservation, and slow fashion rooted in justice and tradition. You’re helping us continue to weave — not only threads — but futures filled with pride, possibility, and purpose.