Casa Flor Ixcaco Weaving Cooperative
The fantastic women of the Casa Flor Ixcaco weaving cooperative in San Juan la Laguna, Solola, Guatemala have transformed our business strategies and practices.
Miriam Navichoc of the Casa Flor Ixcaco weaving cooperative has an impressive love for family—both her own and those in her community—which is core to her leadership of the cooperative. When we met in 2014, Casa Flor Ixcaco was one of a few textile cooperatives established and led by women. Teresa Ujpan founded the cooperative in 1996 (sadly, she passed in early 2021) and her legacy of weaving design and technique lives on through continued practice. Casa Flor’s textiles are stunning and their commitment to the traditional Mayan weaving techniques creates a fascinating context for their work. Each person we’ve met from the cooperative is creative, friendly, and committed to their craft. It’s an honor to deepen our friendships and grow our partnership.
With Miriam, we’ve had many conversations about the community of San Juan la Laguna and have worked together to create initiatives that support and expand opportunities for individuals and small businesses in the town. Through our Greater Good fund paired with additional funding and volunteers from service groups, we’ve partnered to plant Hass avocado trees, establish a garden to grow plants and flowers for natural dyes for the cotton thread used in weaving, and have sought to create relationships between village visitors and the members of the cooperative.
Most importantly, we’re grateful for the invaluable lessons learned through our friendships with the cooperative and the fine individuals who utilize the important weaving techniques passed from generation to generation. We’ve learned much about the beauty of the Mayan culture of Guatemala and the value of family, friendship, and time together around meals and conversations.
Miriam and Delfina, another leader of the cooperative, have traveled to Colorado to provide cultural insights through demonstration of their weaving techniques combined with the sale of the finished textiles. They’ve stayed in our home and have become part of our family in many ways. Their presence and friendship have gifted my family with a deeper understanding of the diversity and beauty of our world. We are better people due to their elegance and friendship.
What began as an exploration of businesses supporting businesses has morphed into something much more significant, an opportunity to move toward each other as our partnership flourishes while creating meaningful opportunities for greater good.
For more information about the cooperative and their textiles, visit their website here.
