This is Elvia Minas of San Miguel Escobar. I met her on a research trip to Guatemala during the summer of 2012 when I traveled there to learn about the Direct Trade Coffee Cooperative known as As Green as it Gets. I was delighted by the beautiful patterns as well as the quality of Elvia’s creations and purchased several for myself and family members. After seeing mine, some of my friends even purchased items from Elvia, and I continue to put others in contact with her.
Elvia's creations: Elvia Minas purchases used huipiles (blouses) and cortes (skirts) in the markets of Guatemala. The cloth for huipiles and cortes is made on a backstrap loom and is highly durable. (See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oewvqPF9JU for a video demonstrating the process) The embroidery is all by hand, and the colors and patterns are unique to each village. Thus, indigenous people of the villages of Guatemala can identify a person's home by looking at his or her clothing. Men have their own distinct clothing with patterns that are unique to each village, although men are more likely to wear contemporary clothing today.
Elvia's participation in direct trade: Elvia is the daughter of Timoteo Minas, one of the seven original farmers in the Direct Trade Coffee Cooperative of As Green as it Gets (AGAIG). (See my Blogs #22 and #23 to learn more about AGAIG.) Elvia’s small business is one of many direct Trade projects facilitated by AGAIG. Direct Trade cuts out the middle person and returns the proceeds of the sales of a product to the producer as much as possible. Like Fair Trade, Direct Trade helps promote economic security (fair wages and reliable income) and social equity. Both are part of the Triple Bottom Line.
For more information about AGAIG and its producers, including Elvia Minas, see http://www.asgreenasitgets.org/.
Copyright© 2013 by Paulette L. Stenzel for text. Photo by AGAIG.
Elvia's participation in direct trade: Elvia is the daughter of Timoteo Minas, one of the seven original farmers in the Direct Trade Coffee Cooperative of As Green as it Gets (AGAIG). (See my Blogs #22 and #23 to learn more about AGAIG.) Elvia’s small business is one of many direct Trade projects facilitated by AGAIG. Direct Trade cuts out the middle person and returns the proceeds of the sales of a product to the producer as much as possible. Like Fair Trade, Direct Trade helps promote economic security (fair wages and reliable income) and social equity. Both are part of the Triple Bottom Line.
For more information about AGAIG and its producers, including Elvia Minas, see http://www.asgreenasitgets.org/.
Copyright© 2013 by Paulette L. Stenzel for text. Photo by AGAIG.
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