One World Projects
Glass Bead Flower Bracelet
Glass Bead Flower Bracelet
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Hand-strung floral bracelets made from glass beads by Guatemalan artisans. Guatemala is known for its indigenous population - descendants of the ancient Mayan civilization. Did you know that even today there are about 23 spoken Mayan dialects in Guatemala? Guatemalan handcrafts are just as rich as their culture. Enjoy these colorful and vibrant flower bead bracelets which will take you back to the mystic Mayan era.
- Sold in assorted colors
- Each Measures approximately 6-1/2” in length
- Matching glass bead necklace available
Handmade in Guatemala and fair trade imported.
“From The Mayan People To You” – De La Selva, located near La Antigua in San Juan del Obispo Guatemala, is a producer and global exporter of high-quality Mayan and Guatemalan handicrafts. The organization began its journey as an exporter of Guatemalan handicrafts in 1991 and after 19 years of hard work, team support, and market development, the company has evolved to approximately 35 staff members who work from the main office situated in San Juan del Obispo.
De La Selva works with artisans from all over this diverse country; each artisan is known for making a specific handicraft. Some of their popular product lines include the Mayan worry dolls, crochet stress balls, glass beaded jewelry, woven friendship bracelets, and miniature ceramics.
Apart from being a successful craft exporter, De La Selva plays other important roles in the lives of these artisans and their communities. Most importantly, the organization provides a market to artisans for their crafts which helps to supplement the income they receive from farming. De La Selva also partners with donors and developmental agencies from all over the world to make a difference in the socio-economic status of it’s producer artisans. Through various efforts, De La Selva has been able to achieve commendable results in providing basic infrastructure for far flung communities in Guatemala where their artisans reside including: local school facilities, cleaner drinking water, waste management, and other services. The journey does not end here and there are many more parallel developmental projects that the organization is working around. The De La Selva team along with it’s many supporters dream of making these indigenous communities self-sufficient so that they and their families are able to lead a better life.
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.
