The Bite Magazine - issue 16

bite bags while the classic square neck top has zigzags or a commercial peak. In San Lucas Tolimàn, the weavers sepa- rate each of the bands with red threads or thicker strings that display geometric designs on the canvas when they weave with the loom; this facilitates filling the canvas with supplementary weft brocade in diminutive size. In Nahualá, the prac- tice of allowing bright red dyes to run into undecorated sections and thus cre- ating a pink halo around the brocaded sections is an intricate detail that sepa- rates these weavers from those in other villages.The weavers also emphasises the use of geometric designs in zigzags, rep- resenting the snake or Kumat’z in K’iche language. The huipil from Tactic in Alta Verapaz uses an elegant and broad spec- trum of colours throughout the body, and the weaving is usually accented with traditional deer and Mayan stars in the bodice. There are many more regions that have their own unique styles that make Maria’s Bags really stand out. The collection is made up of different types of bags with the name of the region that the huipil is created in.This includes the Bow Clutch which mixes multi- coloured huipil from the region of Tactic Cobán in Guatemala with high quality leathers in colours of azure, emerald, bronze, earth tones, fuchsia and gold. It has an elegant leather border across the bag, metallic zipper and personal- ised handler.The Bucket bag is a modern staple that fuses vibrant traditional huipils with high quality leathers. It has a classic braided leather strap that closes the bag, an interior open pocket, personalised hardware and special lining.The styles in this collection include Bucket Almolonga in crisp white leather against the delicate huipil from Almolonga; Bucket San Pedro Sacatepéquez in soft pink leather with a multicoloured huipil for an unexpected feel; and Bucket San Raimundo in a dark brown leather with a colourful huipil contrast from San Raimundo. The Kitty bag is the epitome of under- stated chic with feminine lines and plenty of space. It has two main zippers that open the bag from side to side.The style is available in Kitty Chichicastenango which has a stunning geometric huipil from the region and sumptuous dark brown leather that matches like a dream; Kitty Santa Catarina Palopó is inspired by the beauty of Lake of Atitlán and crafted with opulent black leather as well as the most defined accessories; Kitty San Lucas Toliman combines a strikingly beautiful huipil from the region with opulent black leather and luxurious details for a time- less accessory; and Kitty Tactic, the brand’s most iconic style pairs organic designs with the world’s finest leathers and the finest huipil from this particular region. The Kitty bag is also available in Micro and Mini sizes. Unique is the quintessential everyday bag in a versatile size to carry all your essentials. With an adjustable strap, you can also wear it as a cross body. The styles in this collection include Unique Colotenango, a style that has plenty of room to carry you from work to the weekend effortlessly. It features an elegant traditional huipil from Colotenango with high quality black leather and sophisticated details; Unique Patzún is unapologetically ladylike with a polished look, featuring intricate and delicate embroidery that por- trays the beautiful gardens of Patzún in Chimaltenango, whilst the black leather enhance its colourful hues; and Unique San Juan Sacatepéquez in black leather balances beautifully with the bright tradi- tional huipil from San Juan Sacatepéquez, presenting a sure staple from season to season. The Unique bag is also available in Micro and Mini sizes. Earlier this year, Boer brought her col- lection of hand-embroidered handbags to SoHo House for its New York debut. With her, she had several of the women from her home country to demonstrate the work that they do on the bags. She told WWD magazine that one of the reasons she launched Maria’s Bags was because of the reaction the huipil fabric garnered internationally. “I took it to London, and I was wearing it one day with jeans, and everyone stopped me asking ‘where did you get this?’’” Boer explained. “I thought this is such a beautiful thing, but some of us cannot wear it all the time,” she added. “So I thought the best way to portray this is to do bags.” When she started the brand four years ago, she only had three women working with her but today this has grown to over 500.“Most of the women I work with are wives, they have children, and so this is a tradition and they can do [this] from their houses,” Boer said. “It was a tradition that was being lost, because most of them were not being paid fairly.” As well as helping women from her country, Maria’s Bags also funds a small school with 248 students currently, many of whom are the children of the workers. “Guatemala is such a small country, but there is so much beauty,” Boer said. “Some people ask me why we don’t do the bags in white or black or just one colour – we tried one, and it just isn’t us. It isn’t Guatemala.” www.mariasbag.co.uk