Our Atitlan LOVE bracelets hail from the colorful villages surrounding beautifulLake Atitlán, Guatemala, made by over 540 female artisans in Mercado’s collective. Mercado Global takes a holistic approach to breaking the cycle of poverty with a three-pronged approach: community-based education in art and finance, creating market access through connections to international sales opportunities, and asset development like microloans to help artisans purchase looms or incentives to save a portion of their salary.
Access to opportunities and support along the way have allowed Mercado artisans to invest (on average) 90% of their wages back into their families: these women are more likely to send their daughters to school, to have improved health, and to become catalysts for positive change within their communities.
Woven on mini foot looms, our Atitlan LOVE bracelets are inspired by the woven hair ribbons Guatemalan women use in their hair wraps. Each cotton bracelet’s color symbolizes the unique cultural attributes of its artisan’s home village in the Lake Atitlán region, including:
Santa Caterina - Pink + Red