ixöq
ixöq (ee-sh-auk), which means woman in the Mayan dialects, Kaqchikel and T'zutujil, is a women owned & operated social enterprise working with local women artisans in Guatemala to create unique, ethically made, locally sourced, fair trade products. Our products are fun, colorful, festive and useful. Each item is designed by ixöq and handcrafted by our artisan partners. We strive to blend modern aesthetic with traditional craft and create beautiful and useful products.
Our products include stunning and practical tote bags & containers; handmade market bags & pouches made using natural dyes, fibers, & up-cycled fabrics; and scarves & shawls woven on traditional looms.
All of ixöq's products are ethically made and sustainably sourced and made to order by women artisans who specialize in traditional weaving techniques. Our mission is to honor the traditions of and provide support to women artisans of Guatemala through a partnership focused on the design, production and sale of fair trade goods. We stress collaboration, equitability & sustainability, and strive to provide steady employment opportunities for the artisans. Proceeds directly support the women, their communities and their futures.
Learn more about ixöq and our partners here.
Featured collections:
cesta totes
Our cesta totes are custom designed by ixöq and handwoven using recycled plastic cord by our partner artisans in Guatemala. These totes are a perfect blend of traditional handicraft and contemporary design and function. While totes are often associated with the beach or market, the function of these totes transcends far beyond the beach!
boxi planters
Our boxi cylindrical containers make the perfect planters! They're plastic so withstand water and are easily washable. These are basically a topless version of our nesting containers and are handwoven by our partner artisans in San Cristóbal using thread of recycled plastic in a variety of colorful combinations. They will brighten any windowsill or shelf and can be used for plants or as decorative storage containers.
boxi storage containers
Our boxi collection of storage containers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are designed by ixöq and handwoven by our partner artisans in Guatemala using the same recycled plastic cord as our signature cestas. They are perfect on any shelf, desk, dresser and make storing things decorative & fun! These cylindrical nesting baskets are our favorite boxi design and have a plethora of uses.
jaspe fabrics
Many of our products are made using upcycled fabrics (tela) that is woven on a peddle-loom using traditional jaspe (haspeh) thread. The fabric includes intricate patterns of different colors centered around a primary color and design. These fabrics are used to make the linings for our cesta totes, our collapsible market bags and kitchen textiles.
handwoven scarves
ixöq works with two different groups of women weavers to create our beautiful scarves. Each style highlights a different type of weave and skill traditionally used in Mayan communities of Guatemala.
our partnerships
The focus of our work is 100% on our partnerships. We collaborate fully with the artisans in order to help women with artisanal skills connect with markets. ixöq empowers women and strengthens local communities by honoring traditional skills and employing artisans at a fair wage and with great respect.
