Kakaw Designs

Kakaw Designs - named after the cacao tree

Supporting traditions with roots as deep as the chocolate tree

Supporting traditions with roots as deep as the chocolate tree. Focused primarily on textiles, incorporating other handmade traditions. We currently partner with 10+ local artisan groups throughout Guatemala to make our and custom designs come to life. Since 2020 offering independent products direct from our artisan partners on our site.

Which colors would you choose for your own loom? Warped by a recent student 🌈
03/02/2025

Which colors would you choose for your own loom?

Warped by a recent student 🌈

Just some of the items that found new loving homes this week at our studio ❤️ Did you know that we have products here at...
02/02/2025

Just some of the items that found new loving homes this week at our studio ❤️

Did you know that we have products here at our studio that are NOT available online? Come take a look when in Antigua! 😉

Is it just me or does it look like the window is going to fall towards me? 🤔
29/01/2025

Is it just me or does it look like the window is going to fall towards me? 🤔

Master weaver, friend, and mentor Doña Lidia joined us for our most recent textile travel to Alta Verapaz. We met with o...
25/01/2025

Master weaver, friend, and mentor Doña Lidia joined us for our most recent textile travel to Alta Verapaz. We met with old friends and had the pleasure of making new ones, learned the details of starching the thin cotton used for the gentle pikbil weave, got involved in the kitchen making traditional dishes, and shared laughter and joy overall. It was an honor to have Doña Lidia with us, which we had promised as a trade when she hosted our partner Doña Margarita at her home when they both studied natural dye practices for a week in Antigua. It felt like full circle. We look forward to hosting more exchanges like this one in the future.

And tomorrow, I (Mari here 💁🏻‍♀️) get to visit Doña Lidia at her home for our online weaving class. With 10 participants registered, it is sold out! We’ll try to see when we can offer the next session.

Frijol, arroz, cacao, chile 🌶️ A good day in the kitchen.
22/01/2025

Frijol, arroz, cacao, chile 🌶️

A good day in the kitchen.

Over the years, Doña Margarita has led us through village markets and facilitated rural community visits as well as weav...
18/01/2025

Over the years, Doña Margarita has led us through village markets and facilitated rural community visits as well as weaving demonstrations. But that’s not it — our relationship goes beyond these meetings on our travel itineraries, as she is the primary coordinator for all of our pikbil production as Kakaw. These stunning open-weave garments take about 6 weeks to weave per piece, and only a handful of weavers around still choose to practice this laborious technique.

We are grateful for such a trusted relationship 🙏🏽 Our travels support lasting relationships and sustainable income generation for our artisan partners through a steady flow of garment orders.

Lately, we've been so busy with in-person classes and travels that we haven't had the chance to offer online sessions to...
17/01/2025

Lately, we've been so busy with in-person classes and travels that we haven't had the chance to offer online sessions too often. So we hope that you'll join us for this opportunity! Great for beginners getting started and for those wanting to review skills previously learned.

One of the top highlights of our visit to Alta Verapaz was learning how to prepare (and eating, of course!) lanchá, a tr...
17/01/2025

One of the top highlights of our visit to Alta Verapaz was learning how to prepare (and eating, of course!) lanchá, a traditional dish that uses Santa María leaves which have a mild licorice flavor when steamed. Favorite meal 😋 and we owe it all to Doña Margarita’s welcoming and generous spirit. Muchísimas gracias! 🙏🏽

We will be sitting down and properly evaluating the trip next week and seeing when we can offer the next visit. I know some of you have already asked about 2026 — the best way to learn about our upcoming itineraries and classes is to join our Experiences mailing list. Let me know if you’d like to be added.

Starching lesson today on pikbil warp. 🤯
14/01/2025

Starching lesson today on pikbil warp. 🤯

A market day is a good day. Even better when visiting weavers! 🙏🏽 🧶
13/01/2025

A market day is a good day. Even better when visiting weavers! 🙏🏽 🧶

Aaaaand we’re off to Cobán for our rural adventure! Fearless cobanera dressed for the job at .com.gt today 💙
11/01/2025

Aaaaand we’re off to Cobán for our rural adventure!

Fearless cobanera dressed for the job at .com.gt today 💙

Tried to make a “favorites of 2024” post but hardly got through January… 😆 I think that means it was a good year. Much g...
02/01/2025

Tried to make a “favorites of 2024” post but hardly got through January… 😆 I think that means it was a good year. Much gratitude to everyone who has played a role in making it so special.

Many of my favorite moments are those working closely with our artisan partners. I often feel my work turns into more admin and communications, but really, the on-the-ground grassroots role on design, production, and workshops with our partner artisans is where my heart lies 💙 Looking forward to making that a priority in 2025.

-Mari

Happy holidays! Our studio is now closed for a well-deserved rest. We’ll be back to welcome visitors and host workshops ...
24/12/2024

Happy holidays! Our studio is now closed for a well-deserved rest. We’ll be back to welcome visitors and host workshops starting Monday, January 6th.

All online orders will be fulfilled January 3rd. And remember, our 15% off selection is available through the end of December 🌲 ❄️ Link in bio.

Image of our seamstress Betty’s workshop (so not actually our studio 😆 but equally, if not more, deserving of a break)

Happy holidays, everyone! Our studio is closed for a well-deserved rest. We'll be back open to welcome students, travele...
23/12/2024

Happy holidays, everyone! Our studio is closed for a well-deserved rest. We'll be back open to welcome students, travelers, and visitors alike on Monday, January 6th.

Hasta pronto! Feliz año nuevo!

Oh, the colors of Guatemala 🌈 This natural-dye exploration trip has come to an end… What an incredible adventure with th...
21/12/2024

Oh, the colors of Guatemala 🌈 This natural-dye exploration trip has come to an end… What an incredible adventure with the most energetic group of fiber lovers! The Lady in Blue shared her expertise and curiosity while visiting our master artisan friends - what a privilege to be invited into homes with abrazos all around. A big GRACIAS for a wonderful journey, especially to who even coordinated all the fireworks 💥 (jk, that’s just pure luck in Guatemala 😆)

Wishing all our friends a safe journey home. Come back soon, we’ll be waiting for you!

Routine walks with sights that never grow old.
17/12/2024

Routine walks with sights that never grow old.

My favorite part of Semana Santa in Antigua is seeing the vibrant alfombras - how they are made with so much care and fi...
13/12/2024

My favorite part of Semana Santa in Antigua is seeing the vibrant alfombras - how they are made with so much care and finished after hours of dedication on the street, often through the night. Just to be stomped over shortly after by a long procession, and then swept up and discarded. The temporary nature of this artwork appeals to me… the fleeting beauty, so much dedication and commitment, with often months of planning to be shown for such a short time. But these beauties have clearly left a lasting impression, for me and for so many others who have experienced this magic.

We’re excited to share these traditions with y’all next April. Our “Weaving + Culture” trip registration is closing in just a couple of days. Sign-up by December 15, 2024 to reserve your spot.

Tip for visitors: get up very early on Viernes Santo to admire the carpets being made over towards La Merced. You’ll see which streets are lined with the beautiful artworks — I just LOVE seeing hands at work, families and friends enjoying the togetherness and teamwork that is alfombra-making. I used to get up at 4:00am before, but now with kiddo it’s a bit later. Still, walking around at 6:30 in the morning last year was a joy, escaping the crowds a bit and just taking in the colors and patterns. I love grabbing a delicious coffee on my way back home.

Dirección

1a Avenida Sur #4B
Antigua

Teléfono

+50251911991

Página web

https://linktr.ee/kakawdesigns

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Videos

What an end to a fantastic time. Thank you International Folk Art Market! Hasta pronto, until next year, Santa Fe! #IFAM2024

We're getting started with IFAM activities today. I had a last-minute thought that we should document these beauties all together, while we still can. Rebozos made just for the market. Five new color ways, only 3 units of each... Come and see (and get!) these treasures while they last! Booth 82 this weekend at the International Folk Art Market. #IFAM2024 #naturallydyed #ikat

Indigo Dance!
Indigo Dance!

Indigo is the most magical of all the natural dyes... And we think we've figured out an important key to its practice... Dance! 💙 Next chance to learn and practice these steps is this December during our Colors of Guatemala trip, all about - you guessed it - Natural Dyes. Gracias, Aiko!

Backstrap weaving setup in Antigua Guatemala
Backstrap weaving setup in Antigua Guatemala

Master weaver and teacher Doña Everilda patiently guides the backstrap weaving student as she prepares the string heddle (called "chocoy" locally) in our studio garden in Antigua Guatemala. We love the beautiful spring hues the student has chosen for her loom! 🌸 🪻 🌷 #backstrapweaving #telardecintura #antiguaguatemala

Setting up the chocoy / string heddle on a backstrap loom
Setting up the chocoy / string heddle on a backstrap loom

In my opinion, this is the hardest part of setting up a backstrap loom! And because of the details, the most challenging to capture for online classes. That’s what we found out when we launched online weaving classes on in 2020. Learning and practicing in-person with us in Guatemala has its advantages 😉 This video was taken during last month’s From Fiber to Fabric itinerary at Lake Atitlán 💙

Our studio opens up to a lush garden 🌱 which is where we hold our workshops! You can see Doña Everilda demonstrating here, and Sucy greeting visitors ♥️ A fantastic mother-daughter duo that we’re lucky to have on our team! #antiguaguatemala #kakawdesigns

Spinning Day 🧶 It’s always a pleasure to work with Doña Marta, but I must say today’s traditional malacate spinning class was extra special with all participants REALLY getting into it ♥️ The energy is contagious when we have spinner Alisha from Fiber Circle Studio as the facilitator! #textiletravels #fiberlovers

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Kakaw Designs

Supporting traditions with roots as deep as the chocolate tree. Handmade in Guatemala by talented textile, leather, and silver artisans using traditional techniques.