Committed to Cultural Heritages. Made of Local Leather associated with an Expert Weaving Technique & Unique Handmade Fabrication.
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High Quality Bags from Guatemala committed to cultural heritages and supporting the value of passing down traditions generation after generation.
The Bags
Ethny Bags are created in Guatemala by expert craftsmen and composed of a meticulous handwoven embroidery stitched on local high-quality leather.
Colors available during the campaign
Raw Materials
Leather
The leather used is a full grain leather made in Guatemala and colored by a handmade process with plants for the beige, brown and black colors. The all process of the leather creation takes about few weeks.
The Weaving
Originated from the huipil (traditional Kiche blouse), the weaving used in this collection comes specifically from the Chichicastenango region and is well known for its geometric shapes.
The traditional woven pattern chosen for this collection depicts the mystic Mayan bird, the phoenix. The Quiché legend has it, that at the time of the colonization, there was a church built in the center of Chichicastenango. Every night the construction was destroyed and the locals couldn’t understand what was happening. So they stayed nearby overnight and found that a phoenix was destroying it! The locals knew that keeping a fire on would keep the phoenix away, so there has been a fire lit in front of the church ever since. The phoenix became a symbol to the locals of death and rebirth; marrying the idea that they are made of both ancient roots and new cultural beliefs.
Depending on the model of bag, it can take a few days for the weaving, handmade on a backstrap loom, to be completed.
The threads
The threads are 100% cotton produced in Guatemala.
The lining
Beautifully smooth sateen material is locally sourced from Guatemala for the lining.
The production Process
Taking about two days, the bags are then assembled and created in-country, by the hands of an expert Guatemalan artisan.
Mini Bag
María Mini Bag measures 7” long, 5” high, and 2.55” deep.”
The name María was inspired by María Chinchilla, a teacher well known for her leadership and power of announcement. She was born on September 2nd of 1909 in Jutiapa.
She was part of a group militating for fair conditions in the education system. María Chinchilla was murdered in a pacific protest. Due to her bravery, the national association of teachers decreed the 25th of June as the official Teachers Day in her memory and honour.
Mini Bag Anatomy
Handbag
Rogelia Handbag measures 12” long, 9” high, and 5” deep.”
The name Rogelia was inspired by Rogelia Cruz, born on August 31st 1941 and Miss Guatemala in 1959. She was know for her social involvement and implication in helping native people.
All her life, she fought to improve indigenous rights. During the revolutionary fight that lasted years in the country, she was transporting people to safer places. In December of 1967 she was captured for unjustified reasons, tortured and killed. Nowadays she is still remembered as a brave figure who fought for a better quality of life.
Handbag Anatomy
What’s in the name?
The name ETHNY comes from the contraction between Ethic “moral principles that govern a person’s behavior” and Ethnicity “state of belonging to a social group”.
Country after country, community after community, Ethny is spreading to the world these hidden gems still unknown to some.
Why High Quality?
It is well known that the fashion industry has long been over-producing. High quality products that you can love for your lifetime are a direct rebellion against overconsumption. Not to mention, at ETHNY we source our materials and labor in a way that cannot be hurried, helping indigenous people to thrive and starving out fast-fashion. Higher prices and longer lead times mean sustainable, improved living conditions for our supply chain partners.
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Why Indigenous?
Passing down cultural heritage is incredibly important to the people of Guatemala. Natives have needed to put indigenous cultural practices aside to make a living for their families and we don’t believe that is right. ETHNY provides employment for the locals by way of sourcing 95% of our supply chain in-country, as well as importing remaining items that are hard to find locally. This secures industry in their cultural practices and offers yet another reason to pass them down for many generations to come.
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Why Guatemala?
60% of Guatemala’s population is indigenous. Today they still face marginalization, as this discrimination gives them very little economic or social power. In fact, most of them still live in poverty with no access to health care or education.
Upon a trip to Guatemala by French born founder, Alexandrine Michelas, she fell in love with wavings and handicrafts made by guatemalan artisans including the incredibly bright, well-crafted, soul-moving huipil, traditional blouse that lined the market streets. She wondered how people managing to make such great craft could be living in such poverty.
Alexandrine learned the devastating working conditions as well as fast fashion brands copying traditional designs and producing them in other countries.
Ms. Michelas knew she had to find a way to create an enriched system, fair for everyone, that brings cultures together by learning from each other.
That is where ETHNY steps in.
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For its 1st collection, ETHNY is working with the Kiche and Kaqchikel artisans, who are descendants of the great Mayan civilization. The Kiche language is one of the largest existing Mayan linguistic group. Although they are still practicing hand-tilled farming of corn and other crops, thousands of years later, since the Kiche people haven’t had equal rights or representation since colonization of the country, their ability to pass down the cultural practices of their people is increasingly at-risk.
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The Bags are Born
ETHNY bags are the result of a collaboration between a sustainable, European avant-garde vision and the encouragement of rich cultural traditions from Guatemala.
Our Commitments
Artisans are paid fairly.
We support local handicrafts.
We use sustainable materials.
We support each community we are working with.
We participate in art & social plans.
Women empowerment
Each bag wears the name of a woman that contributed to the development of the country.
We need your help to support the Kiche culture!
ETHNY has the vision, is building the supply chain and has trained our Kiche partners in quality assurance while crafting our leather bags (made from high quality, Guatemalan leather) in addition to their wonderful weaving skill set.
Right now, we have finalized the design of our bags and have an expert artisan team in Guatemala ready to make them. We have organized and secured a logistic system that has the ability to ship in the US and internationally.
*Order via Pledging!*
Would you like a beautiful, handmade ETHNY bag and are ready to support the local artisan community in Guatemala? How about an early bird discount, too?! Choose your bag by choosing your pledge level on the top left tab! We will send you 6 leather color options to choose from once your pledge is received.
