In partnership with MARYSAL.
Mayan weaving textiles originate from the beautiful Central American country of Guatemala which is characterized by its rich culture, including ceremonies and beautiful colorful costumes. The majority of indigenous peoples in Guatemala are of Mayan descent. Mayan Indians are, in particular, known for their colorful Mayan textile weaving art, which they have been able to preserve until today despite persecution and civil war. But due to mass consumption, their traditional handicrafts are threatened with extinction. Therefore, it is important that we understand and appreciate their handicraft as a culture. We can use the modern world to preserve traditions by loving and buying this original craftsmanship and supporting local family businesses. That’s exactly what the German Aline does with her online shop MARYSAL-SHOP.COM. Let us introduce you to Aline´s story and her lovely ethical accessories store

Aline´s Dream
“During my first trip to Guatemala in 2010, I was inspired and fascinated by the diverse culture, the mystical highland and the colorful weaving art of the Mayan Indians. I had the desire to make traditional handicrafts combined with contemporary design accessible to people in other parts of the world and to capture the magic of this culture for them. A dream was born and has not disappeared from my mind for years. During my first stay in Guatemala, I worked on an aid project. This work was a drastic experience for me and strengthened my desire to support the wonderful culture of the Mayan Indians in some way. It still took a few years to implement my idea, when I was still working in an investment bank.”
Shop Bags

Turning Aline´s Dream Into Reality
In 2014, Aline decided to make her dream come true. She traveled to Guatemala, searched for a local family-run weaving factory and founded her online shop
Shop Cushions

The Mayan Weaving Textiles Art
In the Guatemalan highlands, indigenous Mayans turn thousands of tiny threads into work of art using an ancient weaving technique that has been passed on by generations. Their weaving art is among the most complex in Latin America. Women produce the textiles on the back belt loom, men always weave on the running board loom. The weaving process is complex and takes a long time. Imagine, the production of one square meter of fabric can take up to 3 months!
To bring new life to traditional garments and to reduce the environmental footprint,

Colors Reflect The Elements Of Earthly Living
The famous characters of the Mayan weaving design are the colorful variety of color mixture. Despite great poverty, diverse bold colors shine towards you with joy for life. Spirituality and respect for the earth and its creatures are essential in the Mayan Indian culture thus each color reflects an element of earthly life: Blue represents the sky, red the blood, yellow and orange rays of light from the sun and brown and black stand for the fertile earth.

Shop Accessories With A Value
With the different symbols, patterns and color combinations, every item tells its own story and all MARYSAL pieces are unique. You will rarely find two that are the same. The bags are eye-catching companions for the city, the beach or a local market stroll. Shop your favorite clutch, shopper, wallet, cosmetics bag, backpack, laptop case and more. No matter which bag you choose, each one has its own character. The same applies to the pillowcases: the designs vary depending on the region they are produced. Vintage-inspired hand-embroidered details, cozy textures and geometric patterns add a retro flair to your home. You can choose between different sizes, combine them and pile them up to create a one-of-a-kind look.

MARYSAL Supports Women Artisans In Guatemala
Weaving is one way for women in Guatemala to financially support their families.
Text: Mia Windisch-Graetz, Text & copy writing: Antonia Böhlke
Read our story about the WAYUU culture in Colubmbia and their beautiful textiles art here.