Hemp necklace with assorted beads

These unique hemp jewelry designs are hand-made by a women's weavers co-op in the remote hillside villages of Guatemala. Please note: bead colors may vary from item to item.Since the creation of the ancient Mayan calendar weaving has held an integral position in Mayan society. To this day their handmade textiles play a profound role in their lives.The Maya of Guatemala is one of the last native people on earth whose ancient culture has not yet been completely assimilated into the western world. Over the last few decades the world has come to love Mayan crafts. While products and colors have been modified to meet the demands of the non-Mayan consumer the Mayans still manufacture them as they have for centuries.Handmade goods previously sold to a local, Mayan market are now being distributed through out the world. The products and the production techniques utilized in their manufacture are essentially the same as centuries before. Only the market has radically changed.If the Mayans are gainfully employed doing what they have done for centuries, in their ancestral villages and, most importantly, in their native tongue, then they can go on being "Mayan" for centuries to come.The hemp jewelry we sell comes from 2 very remote villages high in the mountains. The villages are actually on the slopes of an extinct volcano. This area still has few roads or infrastructure, and the Mayans traditional lifestyle is very much maintained. All hemp jewelry are made by families in their homes; there are no factories anywhere in the area. The Mayans greatly appreciate the orders we place with them, and this is a very important source of income for them. Want your item gift wrapped Scroll down to select Gift Wrapping. or click here.