One World Projects
Calabash Water Necklace & Earring Set
Calabash Water Necklace & Earring Set
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Our Large Trapezoid-Shaped Calabash necklace and earring sets with a Water design are bright and vibrant. They are hand painted on pieces of calabash and covered with a clear finish. The necklaces have an adjustable knot closure so you can wear them at the length you wish. Our earrings have a sterling silver hook coil wire.
- pendant 3-1/2'' long x 3'' wide
- adjustable knot cord 16-1/4'' drop length
- earrings 1-1/2'' long x 1-1/4'' wide, 2-5/8'' drop length
- sterling silver hooks
Aborigines is a fair trade organization consisting of artisans from the Colombian Caribbean coast, heirs of the Mokaná legacy which they seek to preserve through the production of accessories that represent the knowledge of a culture that refuses to disappear.
They produce earrings and other jewelry accessories for that outfit that you like so much. They work with organic materials that combined with contemporary elements give a fabulous high jewelry finish.
"We love nature; she inspires us to create each piece, that's why we take care of and protect it. It also provides us with the fruit we work on, which we later transform into clothing accessories. Let's go! Take care of it too."
Aborigines works under fair commercial policies, to provide greater transparency in their processes and offer employment opportunities that include good working conditions to artisans and their families. They work with ethnic groups or vulnerable populations seeking to preserve their knowledge and culture.
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.
