NEWS | GUATEMALA TRIP 2025 – Sharing, Learning & laughing with our Maya weavers
A Rum Fellow’s recent visit to Guatemala highlights the women who bring our intricate backstrap brocades to life.
A RUM FELLOW has worked with talented female Maya artisans to create extraordinary hand-woven brocades since 2014. Then a chance meeting in 2019 with Irma, weaving on her backstrap loom at a bus stop, set the course for a new collection and led to the establishment of a dedicated A RUM FELLOW weaving cooperative that now includes 20 skilled women from her community. These artisans belong to the K’iche’ Maya ethnic group, whose finely detailed weaving has been perfected over generations. Their work provides both economic independence and the preservation of a craft honed over 2,000 years.
The cooperative specialises in backstrap handwoven brocade, a traditional technique in which artisans simultaneously weave and embroider intricate patterns on simple, portable looms. Each A RUM FELLOW brocade panel is an extraordinary textile artwork, taking between two and four weeks to complete often depending on domestic responsibilities. Every piece carries the unique “handwriting” of its maker; subtle differences in pattern or stitch are a testament to skill, care, and artistry. This process preserves cultural heritage while enabling social empowerment and providing economic independence, it allows the women to work flexibly, support their families, and creates a truly viable present and future for the Maya craft of backstrap weaving.
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE TRIP WAS A cacao ceremony in a permaculture garden beside STUNNING Lake Atitlán, setTING the PERFECT tone for reflection and GRATITUDE FOR OUR MUTUALLY BENFICIAL PARTNERSHIP.
The women shared deeply personal stories—of hardships that brought shared tears, and of the personal growth and positive changes that their work with us has helped make possible. Jennifer, 27, learned weaving from her mother and now balances college studies in social work with her craft. Karla, 19, once doubted weaving’s value due to low local market prices, but her work with A RUM FELLOW has helped support her family. Juana, who previously could not access markets directly due to language barriers, has built her own home and planted crops with the income from her weaving. Elvia, the cooperative’s leader, spoke about how weaving has given her independence and pride after her husband left; she treats every textile as a unique creation, filled with care and love.
The group reflected on the support provided during the pandemic — steady work, yarn delivered to their homes, and fair pricing — and the small gestures that make them feel valued, from Christmas hampers to careful order management. Some weavers had never left their community until these trips to the lake, where they experienced new places and moments of joy together. “There’s love in the work, love in the textiles, and love in sharing this day together,” one of them said quietly, capturing the spirit of the cooperative.
The following day a collaborative lunch at Elvia’s home brought the full team together to discuss processes, new designs, and ways of working, ensuring their voices are valued and actively inform the UK studio’s design process.
In 2025, we conducted a survey to hear directly from the weavers about how our partnership impacts their lives, families, and communities. Their stories of independence, pride, and resilience are powerful testaments to this collaboration — you can read more on the full Brocade Weavers Survey page below:
Through their artistry, the K’iche’ Maya women not only sustain an ancient craft but also weave resilience, culture, and love into every panel, and through our partnership these stories are now shared within beautiful interiors around the world.
