hOW WE WORK
We help you facilitate relationships with small workshops and individual artisans in Guatemala. How is this different from working with a traditional factory?
Lower Minimums - each workshop or cooperative sets their own minimums which can vary depending on technique
Less Waste - we work with partners who have low minimums, so we only order what you need for your products, and we make a plan together of how to use any waste so that it doesn’t become the burden of the producers
Fully Transparent Pricing - you will be quoted directly from the workshop or artisan partner
Large Impact - you can help small workshops grow and increase economic opportunities within their communities
Direct Communication - our English speaking facilitator in Guatemala will be the only person along side you and the head of the workshop or artisan.
Exceptional Eye for Quality - we choose to work with the best in the business. The benefit to working with small workshops is that the owner is likely to personally oversee your product, ensuring a higher quality standard. For good measure, we give each product a final inspection as well.
Flexible Services - only pay for what you need. Instead of adding a markup on your products, we charge a separate service fee which can evolve as your business needs change and never impacts the amount going directly to the artisans
Shorter Terms - the workshops and artisans we partner with mostly work contract to contract, so we have shorter net payment due
OUR TEAM
artisan managers
oUR VALUES
At Casa Flor, our goal is to create sustainable employment for artisans and makers who work from their homes. Our approach is simple and based on collaboration and integrity.
Wages:
The artisans set the rate they determine as fair, we don’t negotiate down. This rate is always higher than what they can charge in the local market and working with other middlemen. In 2022 we did a study to ensure that the foot loom and backstrap weavers we work with receive the Guatemalan minimum wage per hour. The main sewing workshop we collaborate with is a Guatemalan registered business that pays minimum wage. When you work with Casa Flor Designs we provide you with two invoices, one for our services, and one that states the exact amount you are paying the artisan.
Certification:
We are a network of small workshops, cooperatives, and individual artisans. We aren’t certified. We believe that certifications are important in the fashion industry, and were built to hold large corporations accountable.
Design Integrity:
Maya Textiles are owned by the Maya. We provide credit and financial compensation where due when co-designing textiles based on native motifs. We will not source “used”, “upcycled”, or “recycled” handwoven textiles for you. We only develop new textiles that provide work today.
Sustainability:
Let’s work together to decrease the environmental impact of your product! Here are a few ways we can work towards sustainability:
Natural Dyes
Weaving with Natural or Recycled Materials
Collecting Scraps and creating Upcycled Products
Tree Planting Collaboration in Guatemala
No Individual Poly Bags for Shipments
Conscious Marketing:
We understand that sharing the incredible amount of work that goes into the products you sell is important to your brand. We have seen a lot of poor examples of artisans being exploited for a poorly designed marketing strategy. We have built a system in collaboration with the artisans themselves and photographers we trust to help your brand share the story of the products you make in a conscious way.