Y'ABAL

Yabal Guatemala is a Fair Trade organization, focused on sustainable fashion, that supports indigenous women’s weaving cooperatives in Guatemala, providing them with the opportunity to sell their hand-woven products through local and international markets.

Yabal seeks to increase the opportunities and quality of life for women in the Western Highlands of Guatemala while preserving the traditional art of back-strap weaving. Mixing indigenous and sophisticated, contemporary designs, Yabal creates modern sustainable fashion products that maintain centuries-old traditions, cultural symbols and weaving techniques.

As members of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), Yabal follows Fair Trade principles - ensuring that artisans earn a livable wage. All proceeds of product sales are are used to fund the important social programs of our organization Yabal Guatemala. Focusing on women as the key to family development, Yabal provides workshops to assist in the success of each individual and family. These workshops focus on entrepreneurship, business administration, leadership, and advanced sewing courses. In addition, we provide educational scholarships to the children of artisans, micro-loans, maternity leave for women weavers, and food security programs such as vegetable gardens, mushroom cultivation, and others. We are 100% committed to using fair trade and sustainable fashion to empower women in Guatemala!

When you buy a Yabal hand-woven product you not only contribute directly to the economic self-sufficiency of the women we work with, but your purchase also supports the fair trade workshops and social programs implemented in their communities!