Woven in Collaboration: The story behind the Parallel Cushion by Collective Stories

We partner with Cooperative Nawal Ja’ to create the beautiful Parallel Cushions, designed by Collective Stories.

The panels that are handwoven for this cushion are woven on a backstrap loom, a technique that has been passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years! The backstrap loom is inherently sustainable as the weaver uses her body to power the mechanism. Most weavers learn how to weave from their mothers or grandmothers at a young age between 8-12 years old.

In this post, we break down each step of the process used to weave a panel for this cushion on the backstrap loom. Pernille, founder of Collective Stories, also shares her inspiration behind the design!

How It’s Made

Step 1

Here, Francisca is preparing the cotton threads by converting them from a skein into a ball using the enrollador.

Step 2

Isabel and her son prepare the warp threads using a warp board called an urdidora.

Step 3

Pascuala prepares the warp threads for weaving by mounting them onto a series of palitos or sticks.

Step 4

Time to start weaving! The brick red and black threads are placed individually by hand using a supplementary weft weaving technique called brocade, or brocado in Spanish. This particular design requires about 12 hours for the weaver to weave the panel for one pillow.

Behind the Design

1) What was your inspiration for the design?

“The Parallel Cushion was inspired by the work of Josef Albers and the Bauhaus movement. We’ve always loved how they approached colour and form in such a structured but playful way. With this design, we wanted to explore how something as simple as stripes could feel bold and graphic, but still work in a soft, relaxed home setting.

The idea was to create a cushion that feels contemporary but has a sense of design history behind it. The linear pattern is a bit of a nod to Josef Albers' use of repetition and geometry, but reinterpreted in a way that feels warm and textural, not overly strict. We played with balance and contrast, how the lines sit next to each other, how the colours interact, to make something that looks considered but still feels easygoing.”

2) Why did you want to create this pillow in Guatemala?

“The Parallel Cushion is actually where it all began for us, it was our very first design and the reason we started Collective-Stories in the first place. The idea came to life after a trip to Guatemala, where we were completely inspired by the country’s incredible textile traditions and the deep cultural importance of weaving in Maya communities.

During that trip, we took a day-long backstrap weaving workshop through a local foundation — and honestly, it was transformative. Spending the day weaving alongside talented artisans, hearing their stories, laughing together. It was one of those experiences that just sticks with you. That’s when we knew we wanted to build something meaningful around that connection to craft and culture.

Creating the cushion in Guatemala felt like a natural decision. We wanted to work directly with the artisans who had inspired us, to collaborate and learn from their expertise. We spent a lot of time understanding what was possible with techniques like backstrap weaving, brocade, and natural dyeing, not just from a design point of view, but to make sure we were being respectful of the process and traditions.

So in a way, the Parallel Cushion is a bit of a love letter to that whole journey - our entry point into craft, collaboration, and storytelling through design. It’s also shaped our entire approach at Collective-Stories, where we aim to create timeless pieces that honour traditional skills and celebrate the people behind them.”

3) Why is it important for you to work with traditional textile techniques?

“Working with traditional textile techniques has been at the heart of Collective-Stories from the very beginning. We were struck by how much care and intention goes into every handmade piece, especially with techniques like backstrap weaving and brocade. There’s a rhythm to it, a quiet mastery that’s impossible to replicate with anything industrial.

It’s also about collaboration. We might bring a design idea, but the final piece is shaped by the artisan’s knowledge, input, and the natural limitations of the craft, and that’s what makes it truly special. These techniques not only preserve cultural heritage, but they also promote a slower, more sustainable way of working that values people, materials, and process. For us, it’s about creating beautiful, meaningful objects that respect both tradition and the planet.”