Guatemalan creations add colour to your word
If you’re looking to add a little colour into your life, check out a new online shop.
Give Guatemala Canada operates as the Canadian branch of the non-profit organization Give Guatemala. It’s a digital retail space (they do pop-up shops around Metro Vancouver, too) that’s home to beautiful colourful creations that give back.
Maria Rodriguez, the cofounder and chief executive of Give Guatemala Canada, chatted with Postmedia News about her mission, creating opportunities and why “Made in Guatemala” should be a buzz-worthy phrase.
Q. What is Give Guatemala?
A. Give Guatemala is a socially focused company that brings handmade products inspired by Guatemalan traditions to North America. We work with designers and artisans in our country and provide them with a sales platform for their modern handmade pieces — all created by combining traditional Mayan techniques, locally sourced materials and amazing artisanal skills.
Q. What’s your mission?
A. It’s really quite simple — to show the world Guatemala’s true colours, our incredible traditions and the quality of all things “Made in Guatemala.” We also aim to raise funds for local nonprofits that help Guatemalans lift themselves and their families up to a higher standard of living. That’s why we invest 15 per cent of our profits into a variety of non-profits in Guatemala.
Q. What do you sell?
A. We partner with more than 40 designers and over 1,000 artisans in Guatemala to create a collection of hand-crafted, modern accessories for men, women and kids. Each one-of-a-kind piece is made with a creative twist of our historic Mayan customs, playing with our traditional bright colours and textures, using only the best locally sourced materials.
Q. How do the sales benefit producers in Guatemala?
A. By partnering with Give Guatemala, local designers can provide artisans with a fair and steady income. They in turn provide a better future for themselves and their families. Through their work experience, our designers and artisan partners develop the first-hand knowledge they need to cultivate their entrepreneurial spirit, grow their own enterprises, provide employment opportunities for others and, most importantly, empower their communities.
Q. What has been the reaction to the products so far?
A. The first words we hear when people see our products is always along the lines of “Wow, this is so colourful!” When we share details about each product — how it’s handmade, how each piece is unique and more importantly, how each product creates an impact — everyone starts to see each piece as more than just a product. They see the story behind it. That’s our goal. Our products are more than just another fashion product. Each piece carries a bit of the artisan who created it, our Guatemalan traditions and a whole lot of giving back.