How I Met Our Makers
Rosaria is a true wonder, who I met while travelling. She’s a tailor who works on an antique Singer sewing machine and her little shop is a wall-to-wall world of every-coloured textiles. She was the first to teach me about the heritage of Guatemalan designs - that each town has their own embroidery/weaving style that represents their people, and that this was how the Spanish identified the Mayans during the Inquisition.
I met Rosaria through a Guatemalan friend of mine, he told he his mother had a small shop, when i saw all her beautiful clothing we started making plans!
I work with a beautiful family of fabric providers in Lake Atitlan every year, they sell second hand fabrics that were either used as wall hangings, decoration or worn by Guatemalans. The most famous piece of fabric is the traditional Guatemalan ‘Huipil’ Tunic which is fully hand embroidered.
The fabrics are also dyed with natural plants, making all the Guatemalan range 100% vegan.
By using these fabrics, not only are we recycling and creating sustainable fashion, but we are helping support the artisans, weavers and fabric providers in Guatemala.
I also pass through the beautiful Mexico on my travels. Here, I work with a couple of families in a market who provide me my handmade pom poms, tunic offcuts for my masks, and the handmade wool Mexican toys.
All along the way, I have met some fantastic folk who I have learned so much from, and I make sure that they are paid a fair wage in respect for the work that they do.
These fabrics are unique to Guatemala, and without these people, Kushty Locks simply would not exist.
Charlotte ~ Kushty Locks
