Mujer es Poder/ Women are Power
Happy International Women's Day!
Here at Casa Paloma we are fighting for a reality where women have the access to economic tools and systems that allow them to create the lives that they dream of.
To produce our textiles, we work alongside more than 50 mayan indigenous women in the western highlands, who identify as Tzutujil, and Kaqchikel. In Guatemala, women, and especially indigenous women face barriers when accessing opportunity due to sexism, bias and racism. Additionally, many women experience challenges associated with living in rural zones, including limited access to essential services such as transportation, education and employment opportunities.
In this challenging climate, our partners have carved out their own paths and are creating their own opportunities to benefit themselves, families and communities.
Rosa says:
“Cuando apenas empecé a crear mi negocio, me dijeron que debía parar porque fracasaría. En ese momento había mucho más machismo y la gente decía que le estaba faltando el respeto a mi marido al montar mi propio negocio. El siempre me apoyó, y comencé poco a poco. Invité a mis amigas a trabajar conmigo y vender productos desde mi casa. Trabajamos duro y ahora tenemos nuestra propia tienda y exportamos productos a otros países. Empecé con dos amigas, pero ahora nuestro grupo consta de 25 mujeres. A veces, si no ves un camino a seguir, tienes que hacer el tuyo propio. Sólo hay que creer en uno mismo y trabajar en equipo para mejorar cada día”.
“When I first started creating my business, I was told that I should stop because I would fail. At that time there was a lot more machismo, and people said that I was disrespecting my husband by starting my own business. He always supported me, and I started off small and invited my friends to work with me and sell products from my house. We worked hard and now have our own shop, and export products to other countries. I started off with two friends, but now our group consists of 25 women. Sometimes, if you don't see a path forward you have to make your own. You just have to believe in yourself and work as a team to improve each day.”
Our partners are our inspiration, and this International Women's Day, we want to share our commitments to fighting for gender equity and justice. We work on a daily basis to:
Cultivate Collaborative Relationships- Each and every Casa Paloma product is a result of collaboration and teamwork. As opposed to other methods of production that are extractive and exploitive, we prioritize relationships and sustainability. This approach allows for our partners to speak up and share ideas, assess feasibility and celebrate success together.
Uphold Equitable Payment and Pricing- We take into consideration the cost of production, time invested in creation and skills/knowledge required to create each product we sell. That is why, artists name their prices for each item, and we support our partners' access capacity building workshops in order to build their businesses. We also do not work on a consignment model, because we know that capital is needed in order for our partners to grow and maintain their businesses.
Honor Identity and Culture- At Casa Paloma, we celebrate women's identity and culture through utilizing indigenous weaving techniques and knowledge. Generational knowledge informs each aspect of our designs and we ensure to use 100% natural dyes to celebrate and protect the natural environment that inspires so much of our work. We also support women work from home so that they can earn a dignified income while supporting their children and families.
Access to a Global Market- In addition to Casa Paloma Designs, we provide space on our website for women to sell their own designs through Artisan Direct products. This provides an additional opportunity to sell products and access a global market.
Every purchase from Casa Paloma represents an investment in the power, skills and dignity of our artisan partners. We work to support women through creating opportunities towards a sustainable income, cultivating relationships based on respect and working each day to celebrate identity.
We are excited to partner with De La Gente Coffee this International Women's day as part of their Bias Breakers Bundle that features our Camila Clutch. De La Gente works to create opportunities in coffee farming communities across Guatemala through relationship based trade, community tourism, capacity building and education. Learn more about their incredible work here.
We wanted to share part of the song, Ixoqui', by Guatemalan singer and songwriter, Sara Curruchich that inspires our work.
“Cada paso que doy
Me acerca a mis hermanas
A la igualdad soñada
Merecida y trabajada
Cada paso que doy
Deja una huella sutil
Un camino que puede seguir
Un destino…"
Translated to English
"Every step I take
I get closer to my sisters
To the equality dreamed about
Deserved and worked for
Every step I take
Leaves a subtle footprint
A path that one can follow
A destiny…”
-Sarah Curruchich