We take a Bauhaus approach to the design process, considering technique and final use from the onset.
Backstrap Weaving
Backstrap weaving is an Indigenous textile technique commonly practiced by women. The loom is worn around the weaver’s hips limiting the textile width. Weavers use their body to create the tension needed to weave each design.
Braided & Sewn Palm
Dried palm is braided in long strips and then sewn into a circular round using a sewing machine.
Needle Felting
The felting process is manual by design. Long, loose, unwound swaths of wool fiber called Top are joined with a base fabric by puncturing both layers repeatedly with needles.
Flying Shuttle Loom
More automated than a traditional pedal loom. Made with a track so that the shuttle can be shot side to side rapidly by pulling on a cord. Allows wider pieces to be woven by a single weaver.
Hand Knitting
Knitting is a looping technique that uses one continuous thread of yarn and two needles.
Hybrid Crochet Knitting
Not requiring a machine or loom, this weaving technique can be done wherever the artisan chooses with single crochet hook needle. A repeated looping technique that integrates a stiffer yarn continuously running through.
Pedal Loom
This technique is used to create a majority of our pieces. The loom is set up and operated by hand. The weaver uses pedals to guide the weave, controlling which set of threads are lifted as they pass the yarn back and forth on shuttles.
Natural Dye
Natural dyeing is our response to creating more environmentally sustainable methods of production. Natural dyes are created in small-batch dye baths out of natural materials such as flowers, indigo, cochineal, nuts, and more.
Manual Knit Machine
Utilizing a series of hooks to create loops, the carriage carries the yarn over the open hooks and then closes them to let the last row of stitches fall. This process allows for simple stitches and color changes.
Vertical Looms
Typically used by multiple weavers at one time, vertical looms are designed to be collaborative and allow weavers to see more of their work as they create. Used for rugs and tapestries, the techniques often used on this loom are pile and knotting.
We work hard to source natural and sustainable materials. Each piece is the result of a careful production process, and we hope that you can see and feel the difference.
Our Materials
We love alpaca because it's hypoallergenic - most people who are allergic to sheep's wool can actually tolerate alpaca! Alpaca also has 3x the insulating capacity of sheep's wool so it is very light and incredibly warm.
Peru: As of 2020 all of our cotton products made in Peru are made with 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton.
Guatemala: We work with an organic cotton grower who is not certified organic. We strongly believe in supporting small scale growers that follow organic practices but aren’t able to afford certification. There is an immense benefit in having trust and honesty in the relationships we share with both farmers and artisans alike. In addition to being organically grown, these cottons are a naturally occurring color without any dyes.
In Mexico and Guatemala we work a number of conventional cotton suppliers. All are dyed using non-toxic certified dyes. In Mexico these are Oeko-Tex certified. We are in the midst of exploring how to convert our supply chain to organic here.
Currently, we are prioritizing keeping our sourcing within the country that we work with as it prioritizes local employment. As we search for the right organic supplier for our Mexico and Guatemala supply-chains we are considering the impact of an organic supply chain that might need to be imported and inadvertently have a larger carbon footprint than a local, non-organic option.
We want to provide the most benefit out of already existing materials that others consider waste.
Guatemala: We work with the New Denim Project to source recycled denim threads for some of our Bath Mats.
Mexico: We source cuttings from a local designer in San Cristobal de las Casas to use their handwoven cuttings in our recycled striped pillows.
Our jonote products are made up of the tree fiber and bejuco, a flexible wood. The bejuco is bent to create a frame for the jonote to be woven around. The artisans harvest with respect to the lunar cycle: jonote is harvested at the new moon and bejuco is harvested during the full moon.
In Mexico, palm is harvested by the artisans that weave the baskets. This process keeps employment within the community. Palm is ultimately biodegradable and can be turned into mulch or compost after the product is used.
We love merino wool because it's finer than traditional wool, super soft, and breathable.
Wool is an incredibly naturally resilient fiber that can uphold heavy wear and tear and still maintain its originality. When treated properly wool is a very low impact product on the environment and can easily be recycled.
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