Fair Monkey

Fair Monkey is a cooperative that imports textiles directly from Guatemala, within the frame of Fair Trade. In cooperation with several womens cooperatives in Guatemala, are we trying to improve and strengthen mayawomens possibiliy to economical support and a more dignifying life, through Fair Trade.
We are working on the basis of IFAT’s standard for Fair Trade

The textile tradition of Guatemala is enormously varied in pattern and colouring. The products are made on the backstrap loom, an art that is rapidly disappearing. The back strap loom is a handicraft that is practised thru generations. The womans skirt (corte), blouse (hüipil) and the mans traditional clothes are made on the back strap loom. The textile is also used to carry their babies on their backs and groceries from the market.

As it is women that use the back strap loom, it gives them the possibility to influence their living situation and increase their quality of life when they can sell their handicraft within Fair Trade. In a land where human work isn't valued very high, it is the mayawoman that is marginalised the most.