Mexico - Bayerlemo, Chiapas
Date Visited: 5th February 2007
Local Language: Tzotzil
Bayerlemo artisans group
Traditional dress for women is thick black wool skirts , with white blouses with some embroidery on the shoulders, cardigans and thick shawls. Shoes are usually plastic and I saw no socks even in this chilly mountain environment.
When the group arrived we went through a process with the translator of introducing Happy-Hammock and our goals and aims.
They then presented to us examples of their work which they displayed around the walls of the room as you can just see in the picture above.
Bayerlemo’s speciality is very detailed embroidery which I saw on cushion covers. I also noticed some rather unusual cool kids tops as well.
Finding the products that work
Kids Tops
These tops are made from hand woven material and then embroidered. They are very unusual and would look funky with a pair of jeans.
Here is our finished order below. We asked them to add on small shoulder sleeves as well.
Cushion Covers
Cushion Covers
Made from hand woven material and then hand embroidered.
It will take one woman a week to weave the material and then another week to embroider one cushion.
Stock
With both the kids tops and cushion covers Happy-Hammock ordered small sample volumes in February '07. We will see how these a received by you our customers over the next year before we decide whether and/or how we can take our work with Bayerlemo forward.
Showing us their loom
Rosa
Rosa is the representative for the Bayerlemo group and she was one of the most commercially aware of the representatives that we dealt with.
Rosa had an understanding of the compromises that had to be made on both sides if we were going to achieve a sustainable working relationship.
The quality of the products produced by the group was consistently very high. Rosa acted as a "project manager" and mentor for the group.
Here Rosa is in mid discussion about something we said. We did not understand their language but loved watching them talk and consider their options.
They seemed to be really enjoying the challenge of it all!
Rosa (left)
