I found this wonderful company today, Nena & Co., and really like their products. Their cookbook is also filled with beautiful images. Here are a few of my favorites of theirs. All images were found on their website here.
And, their selection of boots is quite stunning!
ABOUT ALEJANDRA HYNEK
Nena & Company was created by Alejandra Hynek in 2013 to bring some of her culture to your colorful lifestyle. Nena can be loosely translated in English to mean "baby girl" or "darling" and is a term her mother affectionately calls her. Guatemala {Guate} became a magical place for Alejandra as she grew and learned more of her heritage with the lush country. Raised on tortillas, black beans, arroz con leche (rice pudding) in California, and years of receiving handicrafts from her grandmother made from typical Guatemalan patterns, Alejandra soon found that food was not the only praiseworthy attribute to be found in Guate and those colorful fabrics had more to offer than she could have imagined. With the combination of her love for travel, design, her family and culture Nena & Co. was established.
"Nena & Company is currently teaming up with the non-profit group SADEGUA. We work closely with Alejandra's Aunt Lubia who was born and raised in Guatemala and runs many of SADEGUA's out reach programs including teaching women how to deliver babies. We are raising funds to piece together birthing kits to then leave with these women who do not have access to a proper doctor or medical facility. Our goal is lower the infant mortality rate in the highlands of Guatemala and to help welcome their babies into this world!"
"I fell in love with these textiles the moment I saw them as a young girl. They are a true reflection of the Mayas culture with patterns/designs that have tested the sands of time." The Maya's that currently reside in Guate still wear similar hand loomed "huipiles", the most common traditional garment worn by indigenous women in Guate, in their everyday wardrobe as their ancestors did over the past few centuries, however Alejandra and the artisans she works with have modernized these works of art into handmade artisan bags and accessories. Beautifully hand loomed patterns and each one-of-a-kind, our products are perfect for everyday or even better...for your last minute trip to anywhere.
Rather than just admiring the talents of these impoverished Maya families, Nena & Co. is committed to always giving back! Whether it is by providing purified filtered water to a family or helping a child get an education your purchase of a Nena & Co. bag will enable us to make a difference in someones life that is in great need. Share the journey with us by following Nena & Co.'s "Peace Pilgrim"updates and see what a difference we can make together.
THE "TRAJE"
Woman in Guatemala have passed down their traditional dress called traje for centuries. The tops are called huipils and the skirts are cortes. The Maya culture has used the same techniques of weaving textiles for generations and continue to do so today. The intricate brocade decor on the huipils varies slightly from village to village, but the patterns and their meanings have not changed since the classic Maya period. Not only is traje an important component of the Guatemalan culture, the tradition of weaving provides a viable income for the weavers and artisans who make these textiles to provide for their families.
Nena & Co. bags are uniquely handcrafted and capture the magic and depth of the Maya people. When you purchase our bags you're helping create jobs at home and also provide freedom from poverty for the beautiful, hardworking women of the Maya highlands. I get goosebumps just thinking about it!
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