Since 2014, west elm has worked with artisan groups in Guatemala to produce beaded objects like coasters, pouches, and most recently stunning patterned pillow covers. Inspired by huipiles, the colorful traditional blouses of Guatemala, these pillows are handmade using mostacilla, a traditional Guatemalan beadwork technique. Handcrafted from over 35,000 glass beads over the course of 40 hours, artisan-run collectives in the Guatemalan highlands weave these seed beads into intricate patterns using a comb loom. You read that right—a loom made from a comb!
Beading in Guatemala creates sustainable employment for women in rural areas, which allows them to invest in themselves and their families. The artisan businesses that we work with collaborate with the Ministry of the Economy in Guatemala to create economic opportunity, promote female empowerment, and tackle childhood malnutrition in artisan communities.
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