| Out of Darkness Comes Light | In 1987, a group of women who had been widowed by the brutal civil war in Guatemala, got together to change the narrative of their lives. They were going to re-write their stories. From loss and poverty to strength and resilience.
And they were going to do it with the backstrap loom.
They named themselves K’amolon K’i K’ojonel, an ancient Mayan phrase that means “let’s get together.” That is exactly what they did. With bamboo chenille and richly colored dyes, inspiration derived from traditional Guatemalan clothing, and the determination to pass down the disappearing art of backstrap weaving to their daughters and granddaughters. |  | First they drew in other widows from the war, then their sphere expanded to encompass female weavers in need. Now, many of the members of this cooperative are the primary earners in their families. Their work sustains entire communities.
Today, as the world reels under a different kind of darkness — the global pandemic — the lessons from the women of K’amolon K’i K’ojonel resonate with renewed urgency. Hope lives, survival occurs in increments, and community is essential. This holiday season, we celebrate the vitality of these women weavers and bask in the light that their work emits. | | |
