Hello there! It’s been a minute (or months) since I’ve blogged and figured it was time to come back with an amazing little giveaway for you all!
I absolutely love it when I find a company that produces lovely products with a genuine story and passion. And that’s exactly what I found when I happened upon Tory and her company Ixchel Triangle. When I was first introduced to Tory I asked her if she would share a bit with me about her company and how it came about. The following is what she shared, and why I’m so excited to share her products with you!
“My grandma moved to Guatemala when i was a little girl and i have been in love with the Mayan culture, including the amazing weavings she would send me, for years. Once i started going to Guatemala i saw not only the beauty of this country and the Mayan people but also a great need to educate the indigenous people and preserve their heritage. The idea to start a business working with indigenous men and woman came a few years ago but at that time i still had my “day job”. I taught bakery occupations to inmates in county prison, in the hopes of rehabilitation and reduced recidivism. I absolutely loved this job and the work the Lord was doing in my life and the inmates lives at this time. But we ultimately decided the best thing for our family was to have me stay home with our girls. once i “retired” to stay home with my three daughters (9, 5, & 3) i was finally able to start Ixchel Triangle ( pronounced E-Shell).
I work with a co-op of woman weavers, these 10 woman are now able to send ALL of their children to school and teach their traditional style of weaving, using a back-strap loom to the younger generations. This is particularly important because traditional attire of huipil (blouse) and corte (skirt) is becoming less popular and therefore this style of weaving is also. By working with and paying fair wages to the weavers we are insuring the academic education of their children as well as carrying on the Mayan tradition of weaving on a back-strap loom. In the future i would like to multiply the support i am able to give but so far i am currently supporting the education of three children. three might not sound like much but Jose Mario, Emily, and Allen have my heart. I have been blessed to know them and am now happy to aid their future.
The huipil’s themselves take about 3-4 weeks to weave, then it takes our team of 5 men working together, 2 hrs to complete a bag! Everything is done by hand, the only time we use a sewing machine is to sew the leather trim and weaving together. I just had a short video done, which I filmed a few months ago while I was in Guatemala. It shows the weaving and sewing process and just how much skill and time it takes to create every bag we make. The video will be up on my site in the next day or so. I hope it will give people a greater understanding and love for our products and the culture they represent.” ~Tory
I really love her story and passion behind her products. The video she made is now on her site and is a must watch. Every one of her bags are one of a kind, no factories or mass productions are ever used. That means when you get your bag, you know no one will ever have one just like it. Also, with the release of her latest fall line, which now includes diaper bags and a mini bag, every bag is now signed by one of the artisan “finishers” so you can be sure that its authentically handmade. It is Tory’s hope that people will feel more connected to the individuals who have made their bag with love.
Did you know that there are over 20 different mayan languages? I didn’t, but Tory informed me that one of the most common is quiche. So to incorporate Mayan culture in the language of Ixchel Triangles bags, Tory simply named them Nich, which is small, Nim is larger or large, and Qas Nim, which means largest.
Lately, I’ve been adorning my Nich bag and I couldn’t be more in love! It’s the perfect size for everyday use but still has plenty of room for me to stash a sweater or two in it for these cooler fall days. If you follow me on Instagram you’ve most likely seen my beautiful Ixchel Triangle bags in some of my posts. I’ve had my bags for a couple of months now and they just keep getting better and better! The quality and craftsmanship is incredible and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have found the perfect bags. And that’s why I’m giving away a Nich bag (of your choice) to one lucky reader. Here’s how you enter:
~Head to Instagram and make sure that follow button is green on both Ixchel Triangle and my profiles, then follow the instructions on the giveaway post on my feed. (please, don’t forget to do that or we will miss your entry!)
~For an additional entry, (because you want as many as possible, right!) follow both Ixchel Triangle and me too on Pinterest, once you’ve done so come back here and leave me a little comment on this post letting me know you did!
Super easy, right! Also, if you just can’t wait and need to get your hands on an Ixchel Triangle bag right now I’ve got you covered. Use code “miko10” at checkout to receive 10% off your entire purchase now through Monday Oct. 6th at midnight PST, which is also when this contest will end. Winner will be announced on Tuesday Oct. 7th. Good luck friends, and it’s good to be back! xx
Photos: Samantha Broderick Photography
Okay pretty lady, I’ve followed you both on Pinterest and IG!!!
Followed you both!!!
I have followed both of you on pinterest, and while I have been following you for so long on insta, I have also just followed Ixchel there. I’m crossing my fingers for this chance! (I’ve been in love since you first showed yours, but I could never afford one)
Followed both you and Ixchel Triangle on Pinterest!
Followed both of you! SOOOOOOOOOO in love with their bags and been in love with your Instagram for months!
Following both! Such a beautiful bag! Thank You!
Oh! This is gorgeous! Following you both on Pinterest! My account is (www.pinterest.com/ttapiatt/) and followed the IG directions! All the heart eyes….
Followed both accounts on Pinterest. Thanks for the opportunity to enter!!!!
Following you both and loving everything you guys post! Love this bag!!
Beautiful family btw!
Followed both you and Ixchel Triangle on Pinterest! Thanks for such a lovely giveaway!
Following both!! I have been swooning over these goregous bags!
Following on both! I love what this company is about! And I’ve been dying for one of their bags (perfect for fall right?!?) thanks for the opportunity
Following both on pinterest (martiferg) and completed steps
On IG @GREATfulMOMents. This bag is just beautiful!
Thanks for the amazing chance 🙂
I am smitten by these bags… Sigh. I follow both of you! I need this on my arm for my trip to the big apple in dec!!!!!
Folowed you and ixcheltriangle on ig and pinterest weeks ago. Cool feed and pins!
I reposted your picture on ig already. Cool bag! My mom would really love it!
Wow Ixchel Triangle bags are beautiful! The colors and detail are stunning! Definitely a must have handbag! Also I enjoy all your different posts on your blog! And am following you both on Pinterest and IG! 🙂
The first time I met you I was dying over your bag! I followed both of you on Pinterest, this means serious business. I need this bag!
Done……love the bags!!!
Following both! :)) thanks for the chance! (@mommytoews on ig)
Following both of you also on pinterest!
@mladyebritt
Following you both on Pinterest. I’m LLmama! Thanks for the chance!!
Entered on IG and follow you both on Pinterest! 🙂
I am following you both on Pinteerest.
Followed 🙂 hope I winnnnn!!!
I love your style and more importantly sweet heart!! What an awesome company and hello, gorgeous bags!!! I am so excited to scroll through her site!! Following you both on Insta and on Pinterest!!
Following on Pinterest!
I’ve followed you on both Pinterest and Instagram. I also tagged three friends on Instagram
Followed both on Pinterest and Instagram! Sure do have my fingers crossed! This would be a perfect diaper bag!
I follow both accounts on IG and Pinterest. you have a beautiful blog! glad you started blogging again. 🙂
I followed you both on pinterest!
Beautiful Bags~ beautiful people, that you both are. Following both of you lovelies on Instagram (thewho82) & Pinterest (MissMolly). 🙂 Would be an absolute dream to win a bag! *fingers and toes crossed* XO
Following you both on Pinterest and IG!
Also, where are those booties from?! Love them!!!
Hello, My name is Sara and I stumbled upon your Instagram through a few common followers and went to your blog and just had to introduce myself! And first of all, your blog is awesome! I too live in the Richmond area and love the maya culture and textiles. I work at a boutique called AlterNatives in carytown which is Richmonds first locally owned fair trade store that is actually run by Maya philosophy. Its owned by an indigenous woman herself and is from Tejutla, Guatemala. She is Maya and apart of the Ma’m tribe. She is also the director of a non profit organization called highland support project that has been working with indigenous communities for over 20 years. The non profit helps establish social justice, social behavior health programs, reforestation, development and so many others. Within the organization they also have established other organizations like the first indigenous woman run and operated company (Pixan / Weavers making woven clothing/ acc/ textl with natural materials and dyes) Which works hand in hand with the store in carytown, AlterNatives by buying directly from them. Learned so many things from this awesome Maya lady, their philosophy of life, and store and thought you’d like to check it out if you haven’t already!