This group called Aj'kemaa is made up of 5 women's artisan associations in San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala that produce textiles dyed with natural dyes. They seek to preserve Mayan culture and traditions by rescuing ancient backstrap loom weaving and natural dyeing techniques. They collect plants from around Lake Atitlan like coconut shells, pericon, carrot, guachipilin, and avocado bark to dye yarn different colors. Their products include bags, scarves, tablecloths, and other items that promote fair trade and women's empowerment in the community.

1. Textiles dyed with natural dyes
made by associations of
indigenous women tz’utujiles de
San Juan La Laguna

2. Group Aj’kemaa
Who we are?
We are a group of 5 women artisans
associations of the municipality of San Juan
La Laguna, that produce textiles dyed with
natural dyes using the ancient technique of
backstrap loom. In Mayan language Tz'utujil,
Aj kemaa means "weavers".
Each partnership has been consolidated
under one goal: "to contribute to the
economy of our homes to improve the
quality of life our children and look for the
empowerment of women to participate
Tz'utuhil in the productive sector under the
criteria of fair trade .
Following this need, the idea to apply our
customs and traditions as artisanal
production of textiles as a way of doing
business.

3. In addition, we seek to rescue the
Mayan culture and traditions that have
been handed down by our ancestors
from generation to generation, but are
now disappearing.
The Maya had a harmony with Mother
Earth, and that is why we decided to
rescue this dyeing technique, as we
understand that businesses today
must be sustainable to the extent
possible with our activities.
We use different colors from vegetable
fibers such as seeds, stems, leaves,
roots, bark and fruits that grow in Lake
Atitlan and its surroundings as coconut
shell, pericón, carrot, Guachipilín,
avocado bark, leaves of coffee, among
many others.

4. DYEING PROCESS

5. The process
For the dyes for dyeing the yarn, we perform
the following process:
• We collect leaves of different trees, fruits,
seeds and bark; each provides a different
color and hue.
• In a pot with water, boil the materials
individually.
• When the water is boiling and notes that
already has color, remove from heat.
• Strain the water and again boil.
• Then the white thread to be dyed is
introduced.
• The thread between 15 to 20 minutes until
boiling is baked again (it should be noted that
the thread has obtained the desired color).
• The thread is pulled boiling water and add a
fixative solution (used mainly banana peel)
and wash with soap to avoid fading.
• Finally it is dried the dyed yarn.

6. SACATINTA SHEETS
Zacatinta leaves colored leaves
Gray-blue and green mixed with
Palo whistle)

7. CARROT and ACHIOTE
Carrot and annatto colored leaves
orange

8. BAT WHISTLE
Palo whistle goes Color
Light yellow, and green mixed
with Zacatinta

9. TECHNIQUE
Loom

10. OUR PRODUCTS
We offer three product lines:
Personal accessories: bags / backpacks, scarves
shawls, cosmetiqueras, purses, hats.
Linen: tablecloths, place mats, table runners, napkins.
Other: bedspreads, hammocks, carrying cell
We have different designs and color schemes; We
can
make products the customer already requested the
measure.

11. BAGS

21. SCARVES

27. HATS

33. COSMETIQUERAS

34. COSMETIQUERAS

38. CENTERS TABLE
TABLECLOTHS

39. Centros de mesa

44. NAPKINS

45. Mañaneras

46. MAÑANERAS

49. CELL HOLDER