Why It Matters: Preserving Backstrap Weaving

ArtisansTravel StoriesCommunitiesRB Curated ProductsPreservationSustainability

Apr 15

*Backstrap weaving in the community of* *Nahuala*

In Guatemala, backstrap weaving is more than a craft—it’s a language of identity, lineage, and community.

Woven into every thread of a traditional huipil blouse is a personal and cultural story. These garments are created by the skilled hands of indigenous women who work from their homes, balancing family life with an art form passed down from mother to daughter for generations. Each huipil is unique to the weaver’s region and community, with designs so specific they can reveal one’s village, marital status, and spiritual beliefs. It can take up to six months to complete a single blouse, requiring not only technical mastery but also deep creative expression and ancestral knowledge.

*Pez Pillow* *in Azul Marino - Navy Blue*

For many women, backstrap weaving is a vital source of income and independence—one that allows them to remain in their communities while supporting their children’s education, medical care, and well-being. Yet, in recent years, economic hardship has pushed some to sell their most heirloom huipiles—garments never intended for sale but worn with pride and meaning. These deeply personal works of art are often dismantled and repurposed into accessories, stripped of context and divorced from their makers. The loss is not only economic—it is cultural, symbolic, and generational.

At RB Curated, our mission is to support artisans in a way that honors their work—not as trend or commodity, but as heritage and legacy. We believe in originality, connection, and the enduring beauty of craftsmanship. From the beginning, our purpose has been clear: to create ethical, purposeful design rooted in mutual respect and cultural preservation.

*Preparing the loom for backstrap weaving in* *Nahaual*

What started with a reverence for handwoven Guatemalan textiles has grown into a deeper commitment—to listen, learn, and collaborate with artisans across Latin America whose traditions embody our shared values of integrity, sustainability, and community.

This is the foundation of our story. A journey inspired by the resilience and artistry of women who weave not only for livelihood but with love, pride, and vision. At RB Curated, we are building long-term relationships that celebrate skill, elevate craftsmanship, and ensure that each piece we share carries with it a thread of purpose—one that connects us all.

To learn more about the complexities surrounding repurposed huipiles, we recommend watching Recycled Huipiles: Unraveling Tradition by Tela Film Productions, co-directed by Erin Semine Kökdil and Jenn Miller Scarnato.

*Regan Billingsley, founder of RB Curated*

We invite you to explore our collection with curiosity and care—knowing that behind every piece is a story worth preserving. Through thoughtful design and respectful collaboration, RB Curated aims to be a bridge between past and present, artisan and admirer, craft and culture.