LOOM BAG / LILY TREE

This handwoven bag, made using a waist loom, is the result of a bold experiment carried out by a skilled artisan from San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. He created this authentic and functional design by joining two pieces of mini hammocks and using the cords from the ends as handles.

The waist loom is set up by tying the ends of the warp to two pieces of wood or sticks called "enjulios," which support the weaving and define its width. The upper end of the loom is tied to a tree, while the other end is held at the waist with a "mecapal," a type of sash that the weaver secures around her waist to tension the loom. Through a constant back-and-forth of alternating threads, rectangular canvases are produced, which are widened through joins or rounds.