Our Story

Trama Textiles is a 100% worker-owned cooperative of female Maya weavers across Guatemala. Our mission is to empower Indigenous women through fair wages, sustainable practices, and the preservation of Maya weaving traditions.

Trama Textiles was founded in 1988, during one of the most challenging periods in Guatemala's history—the internal armed conflict. This conflict, which lasted for over 36 years, resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and widespread devastation, especially in Indigenous communities, which were the most affected. The violence and state repression deprived many of these communities of their land and dignity, pushing women to find ways to survive while keeping their cultural traditions alive.

Maya communities, which make up the majority of the Indigenous population in Guatemala, were deeply impacted. Towns in regions like Quiché, Sololá, Huehuetenango, Sacatepéquez, and Quetzaltenango faced forced displacement, disappearances, and the loss of resources and belongings. In the midst of this adversity, women turned to their ancestral weaving knowledge as a means of resistance and survival.

It was in this context that Trama Textiles emerged, as a response to the women’s need to unite, preserve their traditions, and gain economic independence. Through cooperation and solidarity, these women turned their weaving skills into a way to heal and rebuild their lives. At the same time, they managed to keep alive the traditions that had been passed down from generation to generation.

Today, Trama Textiles remains a testament to the power of community and resilience. The project continues to support more than 150 women from 17 communities across five regions in the Western Highlands: Sololá, Huehuetenango, Sacatepéquez, Quetzaltenango, Quiché.

When you purchase our products, you are not just acquiring beautiful textiles; you are actively participating in a movement that honors the history, culture, and resistance of Indigenous women. Every piece we sell carries a story of struggle, empowerment, and hope, woven by hands that, through time, have preserved and defended Maya culture.

Our Mission

Trama Textiles advances economic empowerment, educational opportunity, and cultural preservation for Indigenous Maya women in Guatemala. We generate sustainable livelihoods through fair-trade sales of backstrap-woven textiles, ensuring artisans receive dignified compensation for their craftsmanship.

Our community-centered model welcomes researchers, interns, volunteers, and global partners as collaborators in long-term development. Through ethical retail channels and strategic wholesale alliances, we expand market access that secures ongoing work for our weavers and strengthens the social fabric of their families and communities. Our commitment is to cultivate intergenerational impact—empowering today’s artisans while opening brighter, more equitable opportunities for their children.

Not-For-Profit 

Trama Textiles is a not-for-profit co-operative, meaning our primary purpose to provide benefits to our members, their families, and wider communities, rather than to generate profits. Any profits generated are either reinvested into the co-operative, allocated to other community projects such as the Almaya Fund, or distributed amongst our members. 

Our Vision

We aim to see Indigenous Maya women succeed in every sense, creating a world where their families are educated, their craftsmanship is valued, and their traditions are preserved.

Through slow fashion and fair trade, we want to ensure their weaving skills continue to inspire and empower future generations. We believe in a future where sustainable fashion celebrates culture, supports communities, and creates lasting impact.

Our goal is to build a global community that honors the art of backstrap weaving while promoting social and environmental responsibility, alongside the preservation of Mayan tradition.

Our Core Values 

From our mission and vision to our day-to-day operations, our core values guide everything we do here at Trama Textiles.  

1. Empowerment

We believe in women’s autonomy through dignified, paid work and leadership roles within their communities.

2. Cultural Pride

We honor indigenous knowledge and craftsmanship, ensuring the stories and symbols in every weave continue to live on.

3. Solidarity

We work as a family:  Program Coordinator, volunteers, weavers, and supporters connected through shared purpose and mutual respect.

4. Respect for the Earth

We promote sustainability through handmade, low-impact processes and conscious consumption.

5. Connection

We create meaningful experiences; whether in our store, weaving school, or online that foster global understanding.

 

Organizational Structure 

Trama Textiles is a 100% worker owned co-operative. This ensures our weavers are the heart of our organization as they collectively control the association and its operations. Each woman in the cooperative has an equal say in major decisions and the election of a board of weavers. 

Over the years we have teamed up with a variety of organizations and businesses internationally, so we wanted to dedicate a space to showcase our features and collaborations. Below you can find a collection of our highlights. We hope this page can help provide greater insight into Trama Textiles. 


Our Board of Weavers 

Our board of weavers are elected representatives from different regions who meet regularly to discuss co-operative affairs and make operational decisions. 

Our current board of weavers is below. 

President: Amparo de León de Rubio
Vice President: Oralia Chopen
Secretary: Lidia Sicay
Treasurer: Maria Luisa Chavez
1st Member: Isabel Guarchaj
2nd Member: Socorro Sicay
3rd Member: Julia Díaz 

Every three months, weavers gather in Xela to review progress and discuss improvements. Every two years, the cooperative hosts an assembly where women vote on leadership and update governance policies.


Our leaders

Oralia Chopen, Amparo de León, and Monica Menchu are the leaders who proudly represent our weavers. Their experience has taken the art of Maya weaving beyond our communities, positioning Trama Textiles on an international stage.

Amparo de León and Oralia Chopen

Our coordinator, Monica, connects with you, our clients, as well as with the weavers and their representatives. She manages the online store and coordinates volunteers, always seeking long-term solutions to ensure the association grows sustainably and that the Maya tradition continues to thrive, providing opportunities for our women.

At Trama Textiles, the leadership of Oralia, Amparo, and our coordinator embody the strength and wisdom of our communities. Through their experience working with foreigners and traveling abroad, they have given voice and visibility to our weavers, building relationships based on respect and fair trade. Meanwhile, our coordinator drives daily management and long-term vision, ensuring each textile retains its essence and supports the association’s sustainability. Together, we build a future that honors our culture and dignifies the artisanal work of our women.


Transparency and Impact 

At Trama Textiles we are fully committed to being open about our operations, finances and impact. We believe that when you support our work, you deserve to know exactly how your contribution makes a difference. As part of our commitment to transparency we: 

  • Publish Annual Reports: These reports provide details of our operations from the previous year, including the challenges we have faced and how we plan to address these challenges going forward. 
  • Keep Administrative Overhead Low: We keep administrative costs minimal to ensure the majority of every purchase and donation goes directly to the people and programs that need it most.
  • Impact You Can See: Our impact can be broken down into three categories: economic impact, cultural impact, and environmental impact. We share stories, data, and results to share with you these impacts and so you can see exactly what your support is making possible. 


Annual Reports