Andrea Crossbody

Artisan Profile

Mercado Global combines ancient Mayan loom weaving techniques with modern aesthetic and function, carrying a story of partnership between the women who weave their collections and the women who wear them. Exclusively hand-loomed and hand-stitched fabrics reflect the colors of the highland Guatemalan artisans’ home landscapes. They empower indigenous women to overcome poverty and become agents of change in their communities. The artisans represent one of the world’s most marginalized populations – rural indigenous women. They have suffered discrimination, violence, and extreme poverty.

Through an innovative dual approach that combines business partnerships with educational programs, traditional development efforts address the effects, not the causes, of cyclical poverty. Mercado Global is unique in its focus on change from the ground up. They provide education, tools, and access to international markets so that women can build their own businesses and invest in their own communities. By connecting them with large-scale sales opportunities, artisans can turn their skills into income. With this income, artisans provide nutritious food to their families and invest in their children's education and the community, breaking the cycle of poverty.