Global Crafts
Banded Abalone Oval Earrings - Fair Trade-Mexico
Banded Abalone Oval Earrings - Fair Trade-Mexico
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Handcrafted in high-quality alpaca silver by woman artisans in Mexico, these beautiful abalone shell earrings are set in skillfully designed metalwork.
- Measures: Approximately 2 inches by 1 inch.
- Sterling silver, hypoallergenic hooks.
- Natural, iridescent sheen and bold colors of abalone shell, which is an organic gemstone harvested from sea life.
- The handcrafted nature of this product will produce minor differences in design, sizing, and weight. Variations will occur from piece to piece, measurements may vary slightly.
The Story Behind the Art:
Renowned for its rich history and Old World beauty, Taxco, Mexico is known for its masterful silver artistry, using high-quality sterling silver or alpaca silver. The Artisana Collection represents work from multiple artists in this famous region of Mexico, offering a wide range of styles from traditional to more whimsical, using beautiful, natural materials such as abalone shells, mother-of-pearl, flowers, and more to create one-of-a-kind pieces.
About the Artisans
About the Artisans
Chichicastenango, Guatemala, has become one of the most important heritage centers in Guatemala during the past 10 years, due to its predominant indigenous Maya Quiche population and their traditional textile products. Yet, despite increased tourism and a renewed interest in traditional Mayan crafts, work opportunities remain few for the indigenous population, many of whom are uneducated and otherwise unemployable.
Enter De Colores Art, a local business that levels the playing field for villagers by offering free training to anyone who demonstrates the initiative to learn a trade. The company employs 30 women and 18 men to knit and embroider textile products, with the option of working at home using materials provided by the company. De Colores recognizes the culture of its Mayan employees, and as such allows flexible hours and gives time off for sowing and harvest days.
De Colores also invests in community education projects by funding two local schools in the neighboring towns of Chujupen y Pachoj, and by providing scholarships to qualifying students.
In addition to stimulating the local economy by creating new jobs, De Colores makes a conscious effort to use recycled materials whenever possible. The reason for this is twofold: to preserve Mayan culture, as recycled textiles showcase traditional knitting patterns that aren’t often seen in newer textiles, and to reduce scraps and waste.
Communities collaborate in the production process, as men work on the biggest textiles and women do the embroidery, crochet and macramé seen in smaller pieces. In some cases, in order to be competitive, sewing machines are used to assemble the finished product, although all the components are handmade and hand embroidered from cotton, wool and/or silk.
