ARTISAN MADE
preserving cultural heritage
Shop Curated Vintage and One of a Kind Collections. Ethically Made by Artisans in Guatemala.
100% handmade process
one of a kind collections
Through handmade processes and heritage techniques, we create quality one of a kind shoes, bags and accessories. The materials we use are full-grain leather and organic cotton. We work with partner artisans experienced in crafted leather and cotton that are sustainable produced and locally sourced. We incorporate textiles that are handwoven by Mayan women, one thread at a time. Artisan women use the same traditional weaving techniques their ancestors have employed for centuries.
environmental friendly
natural dyes
We use natural dyes for fabric because we want something natural and not harmful to our environment. To achieve their designs, many artisan women use natural dyes as flowers and plants to color their threads. The process begins with growing and harvesting plants and then boiling their parts to release each plant's unique color properties. Some of the plants used for dyeing include: sacatinta, pimienta, pericon, achiote and other flowers.
traditional weaving techniques
BACK-STRAP AND FOOT-PEDAL LOOM
Weavers use traditional back-strap and foot pedal loom to produce all of our products. All traditional weaving are hand-operated and enables the weaver to weave intricate patterns in the fabric. The fabric is carefully hand-woven and embroidered in narrow strips using a back-strap or foot-pedal looms using colorful shades of a variety of cotton yarn. Artisans stretch the threads on a warping board that they attach to a loom. Each town or region in Guatemala has their own specific patterns and style, often using different weaving techniques. This makes mayan weaving tradition rich in cultural history. Madre Luna supports the traditional hand-weaving process that characterized Guatemala textile heritage. We do not only support this, but also we don't use any manufactured fabric as our philosophy is to promote sustainability and socio-economic development for rural communities in Guatemala.
preserving culture
EMPOWERING ARTISANS
We find inspiration whether it's from people, tradition or on the journey. From sketch to production, Madre Luna is driven by passion and tradition. We are curious about new ideas and creative paths. We work closely with small, independent artisans to help scale their businesses, support their entrepreneurial efforts and create an impact of opportunity to small communities. To minimize our carbon footprint, we strive to source locally. Our designs are integrated with quality leathers and unique accents. This fusion of Mayan tradition with creative design creates an innovative, mindful and inspired generation of women. Madre Luna products are one of a kind, unique designs that reflects the cultural heritage of a specific community through traditional crafts and techniques. Our Madre boots are designed by us and handcrafted in Guatemala. The woven fabric design is from a particular area or town, making each design unique. Our products are sustainably made using up-cycled fabric.
design with purpose, a sustainable collection
Each collection is one of a kind and thoughtfully designed in small quantities. Since each Mayan "Huipil" blouse is handmade, unique and represents a region from Guatemala, most of our Madre collections are limited editions. It's important for Madre Luna to preserve the cultural heritage of our partner artisans, that's why we want to give you the story behind every product you purchase. Madre Luna use traditional textiles that are handwoven by women artisans. In the highlands of Guatemala, women have create their own clothes for centuries. Their garments are made from traditional weaving processes and transformed into a "Huipil" (guipil), a handwoven blouse decorated with embroidered designs and a "Corte", a traditional Mayan skirt. This weaving technique is an art form passed from generation to generation, a single garnet can take anywhere from one to months to complete. Each Huipil is made from 100% cotton and uniquely decorated with a variety of designs and symbols, each with its own sacred meaning. The symbols range from different shapes like diamonds, representing the universe and the path of the sun in it's daily movement to geomorphic representations of mountains, rivers, animals, plants and Mayan myths. Among the Quiche Maya ( K'iche) each person its believed to have their own "Nahual" or animal protector, who watches over and protects him. These patterns and meanings held true through the years, dating back to the ancient Mayan civilizations. This spirit of limited production reduces waste associated with manufacturing an excess of garments and shifts the focus to integrity and uniqueness. Limited production assists in seasonal sales forecasts to avoid waste at every stage of the manufacturing chain.
