OBSESSED!!!!!!

Obsess: [uh b-ses] /əbˈsɛs/                                                                    

verb (used with object)                   

to dominate or preoccupy the thoughts, feelings, or desires; beset, trouble, or haunt persistently or abnormally:

Suspicion obsessed him.

verb (used without object)                   

to think about something unceasingly or persistently; dwell obsessively upon something.

Origin           

1495-1505; < Latin obsessus, past participle of obsidēre to occupy, frequent, besiege, equivalent to

 The true definition of "obsessing", which is exactly what I have done the past month since learning about Nena and Co.  Not only are the bags ridiculously vibrant, beautiful, and amazing, but her purpose and story and the astonishing men and women behind this company is even better.

Taken from her website www.nenaancco.com

THE "TRAJE"

Woman in Guatemala have passed down their traditional dress called traje for centuries. The tops are called huipils and the skirts are cortes. The Maya culture has used the same techniques of weaving textiles for generations and continue to do so today. The intricate brocade decor on the huipils varies slightly from village to village, but the patterns and their meanings have not changed since the classic Maya period. Not only is traje an important component of the Guatemalan culture, the tradition of weaving provides a viable income for the weavers and artisans who make these textiles to provide for their families.

THE BACKSTRAP LOOM

The art of weaving on a backstrap loom dates back to ancient Maya and has been passed down through the many generations of Guatemalan Women.  It is the process in which they create beautiful vibrant colored textiles and huipils. The weaver starts with raw cotton, which they clean, dye, and spin into thread. The thread is made into a warp and placed on the loom where she can then begin weaving. Many times intricate brocade and embroidery patterns are incorporated into the cloth. The process of weaving has changed very little over time and the techniques used today are virtually the same as they have been for hundreds of years. 

THE BAGS

WE RECYCLE! Our bags are the end product of this intricate process of creating huipils that began hundreds of years ago.  Yes, you literally took the shirt off someones back so take good care of it! Okay, I'm teasing but it really use to be some beautiful woman's shirt or huipil (see woman to the left). Maya families have transformed their traditional huipils and cortes to be the decorative exterior of our bags laced with hand cut leather to make them more durable for your everyday use. One could even go so far as to say these bags are indi-genius bags (for those of you with sense of humor) for their ability to combined an age old tradition for a fashion forward world.
Nena & Co. bags are uniquely handcrafted and capture the magic and depth of the Maya people. When you purchase our bags you're helping create jobs at home and also provide freedom from poverty for the beautiful, hardworking women of the Maya highlands. I get goosebumps just thinking about it!

GIVING BACK

Rather than just admiring the talents of these impoverished Maya families, Nena & Co. is committed to always giving back! Whether it is by providing purified filtered water to a family or helping a child get an education your purchase of a Nena & Co. bag will enable us to make a difference in someones life that is in great need. Share the journey with us by following Nena & Co.'s "Peace Pilgrim" updates and see what a difference we can make together."

On my birthday, Dave surprised me with 39 minutes (because I had turned 39) to pick out my first bag from Nena and Co.!!!  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the style of her bags, and  I ADORE the thought behind them in sustaining families, a culture, and community through the making of these bags.  I am so very grateful for the hands that made my perfect bag, for the art form that the women and men of Guatamala are preserving, and the forward thinking of Nena and her company.  I hope my very small contribution is part of the bigger picture she is creating.  

#nenaandco  
#pylefam365 
#castingourshadow
@nenaandco  
www.nenaandco.com

My New Love!!!!