While in San Juan on Lake Atitlán I had the opportunity to visit a local weaving co-op. Weaving is very important in Guatemala, and many indigenous Guatemalans – especially women – wear a traditional woven costume called traje. Each small town has its own unique traje complete with different colors and patterns. A woman in the San Juan weaving co-op demonstrated how Guatemalans weave items like scarves, belts, traje and other articles.
First pieces of cotton are selected and are smashed together. A thread is then pulled from the mass of cotton and wound on a spool.
Natural dyes are used to give the cotton vibrant colors. Here seeds from the achiote shrub are used to give a red color.
During the first step of the weaving process the yarn is strung on wooden pegs so that other yarn can be woven into it.