Anadesa: Artisans beadwork
The art of Mostacillia in Chacaya
Women in Chacaya were mainly dedicated to work on the farms harvesting coffee. Very few worked doing handicrafts because they lived in communities far from town and other rural areas.
However, as time went by some of them had the opportunity to leave their communities and work in town. They started to make mostacilla and then brought it back to their community to teach it to their close relatives. This became a source of income for some families.
Nowadays, most women work the mostacilla, making different designs. With this source of income they are able to support their families with food, electricity, safe drinking water and education.
In Chacaya most women do not leave their house to go to work, but this art helps them cover household expenses and support their husbands (if they have one).
Each mostacilla piece takes 3 to 8 hours a day to make, depending on the design . This generates an income of 10 to 20 quetzales.
If you wish to support them in this source of income, visit Natik’s store to find the products of Anadesa’s women.
