Maria’s Bag is a successful brand of handbags that was born in 2011 with three specific goals: giving Guatemalan women the opportunity to have decent employment that also develops their creativity and preserves their legacy of textiles, spreading the word about Guatemala by using these bags, and leaving a legacy to Guatemala through fashion and the work of Alida Boer – the brand’s creator.
How does one prepare to enter the market with competitive designs?
You need to have the passion and determination to do things with the highest standards of quality and the most perfect finishing touches, while still always trying to innovate with a good team of talented people.
What was the most difficult part in becoming recognized as an entrepreneur?
I think that at the beginning of any project it’s common for there to be doubts about your work, so it’s very important to move forward and not lose your motivation or your vision. It’s extremely important to believe in yourself and to persevere , no matter how difficult the path.
How do you choose the huipiles – the traditional Guatemalan embroidered blouses – that are used in the design of the bags?
When buying huipiles for bags, we consider everything from the quality of the threads that were used to the design and the history behind the huipil. That’s why we pay the price that the weavers ask, the price that they think is fair for their work.
How many collections do you have?
Each year we create four collections, all of which have been very well received. One of our market advantages is that each of the pieces that we create at Maria’s – besides being one-of-a-kind – is a work of art that contributes to a unique individual style – and this is the direction that fashion is heading.
We have two new collections that we’ve recently introduced: “Butterflies” has pieces made with huipiles from Santiago Atitlán that show the transformation of butterflies. These huipiles were designed exclusively for us, and they took six months to make. The other new collection – called “Flower Blossom” – tells the story of an impossible love so pure that fate did not want the lovers separated. She was turned into a flower and he was changed into the evening sunset. This way, the couple could come together every afternoon in an eternal kiss.
What kind of change do you want to see in Guatemala?
More opportunities for women. Women are key to improving our society. Our company helps bring about change by promoting children’s education, helping in various ways to support a school near La Antigua – in Pastores – where about 250 children attend.
Contacto:
Web: Maria’s Bag
Facebook: mariasbag.com
