ATA Mexico consultant Erica Lardo sets up signage at MASDEDOS Bazaar
Chiapas, Mexico– ATA Mexico has partnered with governmental organizations and non-profits to guide artisans that are incubating their own business representing over 40 groups of Mayan weavers and embroiders. This process began a year ago when the Unión de Artesanos de los Altos was officially formed. The Unión de Artesanos de los Altos is composed of 320 women from 11 communities. They are of Tzotzil origin and learned weaving from their mothers and grandmothers. They use the pre-Hispanic backstrap loom, which made brocan fabrics and embroidered with cotton threads.
BanChiapas, a governmental financial organization that finances rural businesses awarded a grant to the artisans for workshops and product promotion. ATA Mexico worked with the Unión’s leadership committee to decide the best ways to spend those funds. The artisans participated in trainings to build basic business skills in the following areas: sales, strategy, production logistics, new product development and administration. They also participated in over 20 sales events during the past year including 2 NYNOW shows, Vanitas Bazaar and MASDEDOS, where the group was one of 15 that participated.
Artisan crafts from MASDEDOS Bazaar
Fundes, a non-profit that supports emerging and small companies around Latin America, partnered with ATA Mexico and the leadership of the Unión to give a course that helped artisans master the basic concepts and strategies necessary to begin writing a business plan for their venture. This business plan is currently being drafted and New Ventures Mexico will work with artisans on revising it. Once the plan is complete, the venture will be presented to non-profit partners in hopes they will fund further capacity development to assure the sustainable growth of this enterprise.
