Besides being known for our bright colors, Mayamam Weavers is also known for weaving in a wide variety of weave designs, including a couple of unique weaves.  Maya women are often taught by their mothers how to weave on a backstrap loom as they are growing up. This skill has been passed down through the generations though it is sadly becoming more uncommon.

The backstrap weavers in the group can weave an endless number of different designs. Backstrap weaving is spectacularly beautiful – you have undoubtedly admired many of the beautiful designs of the traditional huipiles (blouses) from Guatemala. Our Celebration Table Runners, Placemats and Basket Napkins are all woven on a backstrap loom along with Napkin Ties and Celebration Coasters. It is extremely time consuming but produces stunning results. Vibrant embroidery designs are added as part of the weaving, a technique which is known as “brocading.” The designs all have meaning and are an important way of preserving Maya culture.

Many years ago when the group first started, one of the first tasks was learning to weave on the foot loom to be able to make a variety of products at a variety of price points. The women learned to weave a plain weave and began by creating some different colorways which eventually lead to our Mayamam Stripe Collection. Over time, with some training from a couple of different master weavers, they also learned how to weave on the four-harness loom. A couple of the women loved to experiment with the weaves they were learning. 

After they learned the diamond weave that is used to create things like the Black with Blues Border Shawl or Diamond Magenta Toiletry Bag, they practiced, experimented and ended up creating two new weaves. One is named “Delfina” after the woman who created it and the other is “Ochos.” The women began to weave shawls using these new designs, and shawls have grown into an important product category both here in the U.S. but especially in the Guatemala market where they are unique.

The most complicated weave that the women of the cooperative work on is called Hache which refers to the letter "h" that is created in the pattern of the weave.  It is a weave done on the foot loom and only the most experienced weavers are capable of doing it. Hache Towels and Dishcloths are thick and absorbent as a result of the type of weave. 

And finally, Mayamam Weavers has also taken traditional backstrap loom weaves over to the foot loom with beautiful results. Our Cuadritos line of table linens and jewelry rolls is a good example of this. The original colorway, Jeweltone, was inspired by a backstrap-woven piece. The rest of the colorways for Cuadritos were created by collaborations between the weavers and our product designer. Granite is the only exception. It was created entirely by our U.S. designer as the weavers could never have imagined creating something without vibrant colors.