Ixil Collective
The Morral de Maguey
A morral is a kind of crossbody bag typically used by Guatemalan men for carrying everything they need for a day out of the house. We made this bag to be a type of carry-all satchel, so it has no interior pockets. Take it to your local farmer's market, out for a picnic or anywhere for that matter!
Maguey, or Agave, is a crop native to Cotzal and was traditionally made into all kinds of bags, notably large drawstring sacks for harvesting corn.
With the introduction of plastic string to the region, the craft was largely lost as the price of agave could not compete with that of plastic. Nowadays, the most adept agave fiber artists are of the older generation who learned the trade of making agave bags before plastic became commonplace. That's why the fiber artist behind this bag, Domingo, is 84-years-old!
On sale to provide Mr. Domingo more work: This product has no defects.
Artisan: Domingo
Leathersmith: Beto Technique: Hand knotting; Handcrafted leather Time to make: 4 days Origin: Cotzal, Quiché (Agave fiber, Agave weaving); San Pedro La Laguna, Sololá (Leatherwork) Size: 12 in. wide, 13 in. deep Strap drop: Max 22 in., Min 19 in. Closure: Metal magnet Inside pockets: None Materials: 100% Agave; 100% fine grain leather strap; 100% Upcycled Denim lining from The New Denim Project, a Guatemalan denim upcycling initiative.