Traditional Guatemalan fabric has been fashioned into handy yet beautiful travel accessories! These cosmetic pouches are made from textiles normally used for Mayan cortes, or skirts. Each is dyed a rich indigo color and has a plastic lined interior that you can easily wipe clean (in case of any on-the-go spills!). Ivory colored canvas and a fun pom-pom zipper complete the pouch’s look. Made by fair trade rural Guatemalan women, pouch is available in two different styles, Rectangle or Semi-Circle.
- Indigo stripe zipper pouch
- Made from canvas and woven corte fabric
- Choose from Rectangle or Semi-Circle
- Rectangle is 8.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches
- Semi-Circle is 8.5 x 6 x 2.5 inches
- Fair trade, made in Guatemala
Beauty isn't perfect, it's authentic. This piece is artistically created by hand where beauty and imperfections go together wonderfully. Please accept and appreciate minor imperfections and variations which are true characteristics of this craft.
design: A rounded zipper pouch topped in richly striped indigo corte fabric and based in ivory canvas, finished with a brass zipper and a playful fabric pom-pom pull; available in a gently curved Semi-Circle silhouette or a flatter Rectangle shape.
size: Rectangle: 8.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches. Semi-Circle: 8.5 x 6 x 2.5 inches.
material: Hand-dyed, handwoven indigo corte fabric (traditionally used for Mayan skirts), ivory canvas base, plastic-lined interior, brass zipper, and a coordinating fabric pom-pom pull.
features: Wipeable plastic-lined interior, fair trade handcrafted construction, two shape options, handwoven stripe detailing, fabric pom-pom zipper pull
care: Spot clean the canvas exterior with a damp cloth and wipe the plastic-lined interior clean as needed; avoid machine washing or soaking.
disclaimer: Because each pouch is hand-dyed and handwoven by artisans, slight variations in stripe pattern, indigo tone, and pom-pom coloring are natural and make every piece one of a kind.
Meaning & Intention
Indigo has been prized in Guatemala for centuries, extracted from the anil plant and worked into thread through a slow, patient dyeing process passed down through generations of Mayan weavers. The deep blue that results carries a quiet weight — historically linked to protection, depth of spirit, and the rhythms of rural life where the dye pots and looms are as much a part of daily existence as the harvest.
The striped corte fabric used here is not decorative in a generic sense — it comes from the same textile tradition used to weave cortes, the wrapped skirts that are a defining piece of Mayan women's dress in the highlands of Guatemala. Each stripe reflects choices particular to the weaver and her community, meaning this small pouch carries a fragment of a much larger, living tradition of dress, identity, and craft.
Carrying this piece is a small way of carrying that lineage forward. It is a reminder that meaningful things are often made slowly, by hand, and that everyday objects — a pouch for lipstick or loose change — can still hold history, skill, and care inside them.
Tucked into a bag or suitcase, this pouch turns a small daily task — gathering your cosmetics, jewelry, or travel odds and ends — into a quiet touchpoint with intention and craft. It's a small object that asks you to notice it: the texture of the weave, the give of the canvas, the swing of the pom-pom, each one a gentle cue to slow down for a moment inside a busy day.
Essence & Elements
- Ideal For: Travelers and everyday minimalists who appreciate fair trade, handcrafted textile goods
- Purpose: Cosmetics storage, travel organization, jewelry or accessory pouch, everyday carry, thoughtful gift
- Suggested Mantra: Carry beauty, carry meaning
- Intention: Connection, Simplicity, Joy
Questions & Guidance
What's the difference between the Rectangle and Semi-Circle styles?
Both are made from the same indigo corte fabric and ivory canvas, but the Rectangle has a flatter, more angular profile (8.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches) while the Semi-Circle has a rounder, domed shape (8.5 x 6 x 2.5 inches) with a bit more interior room.
Can I use this pouch for makeup, or just for storage?
It's built for exactly that — the interior is plastic-lined so you can wipe it clean easily if a lipstick or lotion leaks, making it a practical choice for cosmetics as well as travel essentials.
Is the fabric authentic Guatemalan textile?
Yes. The striped indigo fabric is the same type of handwoven corte cloth traditionally used for Mayan skirts, dyed and woven using longstanding regional techniques.
Who makes these pouches?
Each pouch is handmade in Guatemala by rural artisan women working through fair trade partnerships, so your purchase directly supports their craft and livelihood.
Will the stripe pattern match the photo exactly?
Since the fabric is handwoven and hand-dyed, expect natural variation in stripe placement and indigo tone from piece to piece — that variation is part of its handmade character, not a flaw.