Weaving in Pala
The women of Pala, Guatemala are Mayans. Growing up in the more remote and mountainous region of the country, they received little if any formal education. As women in a male dominated society, they spend most of their day doing household chores by hand, cooking on wood fired stoves, and tending the few crops they raise. But they also hold fast to the Mayan tradition of weaving. Using a back-strap loom, they create textiles of brilliant color and rich texture. But since every woman in the village can weave, there is no local market in which to sell their handicraft.
Suppose they were offered the opportunity to weave items, such as scarves, that would be suitable for sale in the US market. This opportunity was created through the Pala Village Market program. Women are commissioned to make scarves although initially they had no idea of what a scarf was or why anyone would want a strip of cloth around their neck. They are paid for their work at a rate equivalent to a high-end retail price. The scarves are then sold in the US and the proceeds fund continuation and even expansion of the program
The program allows them to earn money for their labor for the first time in their lives, while at the same time honoring their cultural traditions. Beyond economic support there is among the women an emerging sense of pride, growing self-confidence and a new sense of empowerment that had not existed before. But it also demonstrates the power of allowing people to help themselves with the skills that they already possess but had never been able to fully realize.
About the Founder
In 20009, Barney Hale participated in a church mission trip with the idea he could use his civil engineering background to improve the quality of life of villagers in a remote Guatemalan mountain village. Instead he found a different set of needs leading to a scarf business. A scarf business? He was as surprised as the rest of us that he was led to promoting women's handmade scarves. But as engineers are known for their logic, there was logic here as well.
He noted that the women of Pala had beautiful, artistic weaving skills but no market as nearly every woman could weave. After several failed designs of size and weight, the women of Pala developed the lovely patterns available through this site today. The village women set their own price and have been very appreciative of the financial contributions they have been able to provide for their families as a result of their handwork. And we have been honored to share their work with as many men and women that we can access through church events, craft fairs, and now this website.
Barney would like to personally thank you for your consideration and support of these women.