BY Abigail Doan | August 5, 2010

 Turning the Huipil Inside Out

It might seem like an exotic twist to pair young designers in Bainbridge Island, Washington, with Guatemalan weavers in Antigua, but as a testament to resourceful textile recycling, this is exactly what GRAIN design studio has done.  Their latest Sololá collection celebrates the colorful artistry of Guatemalan weaving and the talents of local artisans with the creation of hand-worked fashion accessories that bridge two worlds. 

Each Sololá purse is crafted from 'upcycled' vintage huipil (‘a traditional woman’s blouse woven on the backstrap loom’). The vintage garment’s complex weave is reversed to expose the unique rainbow of cotton threads on the inside. The purse is then artfully finished with a nickel-plated, brass clasp and completely handmade from start to finish. The Sololá collection is ethically produced by local artisans in the famous Chichicastenango Market in an effort to create fair-trade jobs for artisan women.

GRAIN design, the globally minded team behind this joint initiative, was formed in 2007 by several RISD graduates who set themselves the goal of creating a shared vision for a more sustainable future. Their in-house product line includes a series of housewares and personal accessories that make social and environmental responsibility their main focus.

Sololá was conceived as part of their 2006 Rhode Island School of Design course, Bridging Cultures Through Design, led by Mimi Robinson. You can follow GRAIN design’s journey in building a more sustainable future via their blog and website.