Social enterprise owned by indigenous mayan women

A decade ago, the term "slow fashion" emerged as a niche concept in the fashion industry. Today, it has become a necessity. In this context, JUXTA NATION, as a platform dedicated to traditional Mayan weaving practices, joins the sustainable fashion movement through a transparent and horizontal business model. This approach encompasses the circular economy, which focuses on extending the useful life of products through reuse, repair, recycling, and rental strategies, maximizing their utility and minimizing waste.

In April 2024, we began a collaboration with Mexican designer Steph Orozco, recognized for her focus on reusing materials and fabrics with history. Steph is distinguished by her undefined processes, experimental techniques, and manual manipulation, resulting in unique shapes, silhouettes, and textile composition pieces. This collaboration amalgamates our knowledge and ancestral techniques with the innovation of contemporary design, giving life to exclusive and sustainable products that reflect the essence of each material used. This project aims to strengthen and spread the collaboration between design and craftsmanship, creating powerful synergies between tradition and avant-garde.

The importance of this collaboration becomes evident for the Maya-Tseltal and Maya-Tsotsil women members of Juxta Nation, who find in the appraisement of their artisanal work while preserving the local production system which is irreproducible on a large scale. This approach exemplifies sustainable resource management, which promotes responsible consumption, contrasting with "fast fashion", whose rapid turnover and low costs generate enormous amounts of waste and contribute significantly to pollution.

Juxta Nation works with seven different Indigenous Women cooperatives in Chiapas: Luchetik in the municipality of  Aldama, Yaxinal Antsetik in San Juan Cancúc, Choy Spolavil in Santiago El Pinar, Bak Luch in Larráinzar, Nichimal Kuxlejal in Huixtan, Achluch in Tenejapa, and Nichimetik Maya in Carranza. In April Steph visited the cooperatives, which sparked enthusiasm and interest among women to explore these new forms of design. Her highlight was a discussion in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, where she emphasized the importance of sustainability in the current climate landscape, presenting various strategies to ensure that companies are environmentally conscious.

Steph exemplified her concept with specific cases, such as upcycling, which falls within reuse and encourages us to prolong ‘the useful life of a product’ through modifications to enhance it. Additionally, she encourages us to consider purchasing second-hand clothing, recognizing the unique aura that historic fabrics and ancient techniques possess. These materials carry with them a reflection of the passage of time that is difficult to replicate in new ones. Its uniqueness provides differentiation of the product, making it impossible to imitate, and contributes significantly to giving a new life to something that already exists.

The implementation of "upcycling" will allow us to give a new life to garments in stock from past seasons, updating them with small changes that make them unique and inimitable. This process not only differentiates our products in the market but also contributes to sustainability by reusing existing materials instead of creating new ones, thus reducing our environmental impact. You can find more information in our website https://juxtanation.co where we will launch the collection resulting from this collaboration in October 2024.

Links:

• Juxta Nation
• NGOimpacto