The Artisans behind the Collection
CREATION
First of all, we would like to thank you for supporting our brand and our weavers during this special time. Whatever the situation, Coutume is committed to creating inspiring and timeless objects. We will continue to develop our collections and keep our partners around the world in business.
If the last few weeks of lockdown have taught us anything, it is that we are searching for a life of meaning and humanity. By slowing down, we have been able to appreciate the simple things again.
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We took the time to write to our loved ones, to call old acquaintances, to take care of our family and our health. Everywhere we have noticed a spirit of solidarity. We feel the urgent need to be together again and more than eve, become aware of the importance of our community.
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Today, we want to honor the history of our artisans, who weave, embroider or make our collections.We have not waited for a global crisis to favor human relationships, they are the essence of our project, the reason why everything started. We are proud to create beautiful objects, hand in hand with these women and men, artists and entrepreneurs, who share with us the same desire to pass on ancestral and rare know-how. Through these collaborations and by constantly reinventing ourselves, we hope to grow a little more as a sustainable company.
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Coutume works with 8 communities across Central America. Our partner work with specific techniques to their village and culture. They are mainly women who work from their homes, surrounded by their family.
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Their names are Maria, Andrea, Juana, Concepcion or Mercedes...
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For more than 5 years, we have been constantly inspired by their authenticity, strength and talent. These artists are close friends or collaborators and our greatest source of inspiration. Like their mothers and grandmothers, they continue to work with their hands. They master complex weaving techniques, brocades or fascinating natural dyeing techniques. All this while caring for their families and encouraging their children to continue their education.
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The associations we work with are committed every day to preserving the integrity and character of their ancient traditions, which are slowly disappearing... Because the weavers are becoming less numerous in Central America. Because fast fashion is replacing little by little the traditional garb with jeans & t-shirts, costing much less, and natural dyeing methods with chemical techniques.
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Everywhere in the world, artisans, makers have been invisible for too long. Yet they are at the heart of creation, developing the beauty of everyday objects that surround us. At Coutume, we feel the need to share their backgrounds, their workshops, their tools.
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Weavers from Chuacruz & Nahuala in Guatemala. These women work with cotton on a Mayan back-strap loom. In Nahuala, the graphic patterns of the textiles represent small stars that embody the strength and courage of women.
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Discover the Nahuala Pillow
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Women artisans in Santiago Atitlan & Chichicastenango in Guatemala. In Santiago, our partners are committed to preserving local textile traditions and creating employment for 35 talented women.
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Shop our Pablo Pillow
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Artisans from Teotitlan del Valle in Oaxaca, Mexico. Coutume collaborates with a family-run workshop, working on shuttle-looms. For the rugs, our weavers use 100% natural materials: virgin sheep's wool and biodegradable dyes.
