Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelica Reyes Johnsen.
Hi Angelica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hi, my name is Angelica and I’m a chapina living outside of Austin. Tesoros Maya was formed as a need to aid the immigration flow of so many unaccompanied minors rushing to the borders in late 2016 and 217. Most of the children were from Guatemala. I personally got involved and sought ways to become a foster parent to those children. We didn’t succeed but the idea was planted in my head to help those children and their families in one way or another. Little did I know that I was actually pregnant at that time (with our surprised baby, Gael). After Gael was born, I had the opportunity to stay home and explore other meaningful ways to pass my time. The current political climate of that time made it almost impossible for me to stay home and just enjoy my baby. How could I enjoy staying at home with my newborn while witnessing thousands of children ripped away from their mothers. It was too much to handle as a new mom and so the idea of creating an ethical business to help Guatemalan families was born. As an immigrant child myself, I can attest to the pain and the turmoil that families undergo when choosing to seek the American dream. I was only 10 when my mother made that journey with me and my two other siblings and that horrific experience has been engraved in every breath I take. I created Tesoros Maya because I would like to help families find dignified work opportunities. I want to provide sustainable income to those families that have lost everything and have no hope. I created Tesoros Maya so that Guatemalan children could feel proud of the work their parents do and maybe continue to pursue that same craft. I want young girls to see how desirable and profitable those handmade blouses that their mom and grandma weave can be, so that one day, they can maybe own their own business and sell them to a broader market. I want my children to experience the power of helping families by supporting their ancestral crafts. By supporting and purchasing handmade items. I want my children to be proud of their Guatemalan heritage and also be able to understand how powerful their purchasing power as Americans can be.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Our main focus is to support Mayan women. Most of these women live in the areas where genocide-torn communities are still encountering high levels of poverty and most families live on less than two dollars a day. This was pre-pandemic. One can only imagine the aftermath that this global pandemic will have on those indigenous communities.
During this pandemic, unlike the States, Guatemala is not providing economic support or relief funds to families and small businesses. With 60% of Guatemala’s population already living below the poverty line, the financial impacts of this pandemic are devastating.
Guatemala is one of the slowest third world countries in rolling out the vaccine and tourism has not picked back up. With every purchase of our products, consumers are directly helping indigenous women and artisan families that have not had the opportunity to sell their goods.
Juana is one of our artisan moms that we’ve helped since day one. Her story is so inspirational and the reason we are able to continue our work: https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5_6p8F9UL/
We’ve been impressed with Tesoros Maya, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Tesoros Maya is an ethical brand; wholesale distributor and retailer built on the notion that principled business begins by supporting indigenous communities and Maya artisans. We pride ourselves on showcasing luxury items with authentic Mayan textiles, luxury bags, luxury camera straps, and other accessories, all designed and handcrafted exclusively by rural women weavers and leather artisans using high-quality sustainable materials and traditional methods. Tesoros Maya aims to provide sustainable and dignified work opportunities to Guatemalan families and help them develop a global market.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
We want to continue shining the light on the Mayan culture and empower indigenous women.
We want to foster and strengthen the “slow fashion movement”. Eco-fashion: Slow fashion, or eco-fashion, is a movement that takes a holistic, big-picture view of crafting clothing and accessories. Tesoros Maya is proud to be part of the eco-fashion tradition and regards appreciation of the work and process that goes into quality handcrafts as essential elements of our business.
We want to walk this journey alongside the Maya families in rural Guatemala. We want to shine a light on their beautiful textiles and ancestral techniques, but also on their point of view about their textiles and also their family life. We hope to expand our circle of artisan women and provide a bigger market so that we are able to help and impact more families in rural Guatemala.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.tesorosmaya.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tesorosmaya
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tesorosmayaco
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxd6WRflh0CfAXsgb9qZMSw
