Erin Hercules

Collar - Woven

$38.40
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
Size: Large
Design: Green Paw
Made in Guatemala 
Hand-woven with multicolored yarns, this unique Guatemalan dog collar is sure to make your furry companion stand out in the crowd.
These colorful and bright collars are handmade by women artisans from a cooperative on the outskirts of Guatemala City. This cooperative, which stands for United for a Better Life, is an 80 member artisan enterprise helping women through social and economic empowerment. In addition to training women in creating various handmade textiles, the cooperative has established a school, a pharmacy, and a bakery.
Product Details:
  • Small: Measures 1” wide with an 8-13” adjustable length
  • Large: Measures 1” wide with a 13-24” adjustable length
  • Colors: Available in blue, green, red, and rainbow colors with paw prints
  • Origin: Handmade in Guatemala and fair trade imported.
The Artisan Story:
This cooperative was established in 1989 to create jobs for women in marginalized communities and to provide healthcare, education, and address other social issues for the community. Over the years, it has grown from a small community health project into an 80-member business cooperative. The organization employs teachers, seamstresses, nurses, administrators, cooks, cleaners, and secretaries, all of whom are paid a fair wage and are part of the cooperative's fair trade business.


Amongst its achievements, in 2002, the cooperative was awarded the best Non-traditional Textile Exporter award by AGEXPRONT, a national trade organization, and their Montessori school was recognized by the Guatemalan government.
Product Line and Impact:
  • Crafts: The main product line includes bags, purses, wallets, aprons, and holiday ornaments, all crafted from traditionally woven Mayan textiles. This supports local weavers and adds a unique, local flavor to the products while cutting out middlemen to ensure fair wages and prices.
  • Additional Ventures: Besides craft making, they've initiated small-scale businesses like a bakery, soy milk factory, and an internet center to increase employment opportunities in La Esperanza.
Located in a squatter settlement called La Esperanza (Hope), this cooperative has been instrumental in addressing community challenges such as gang violence, illiteracy, unemployment, malnutrition, alcoholism, child abuse, and drug abuse. Despite the challenges due to limited government attention, conditions have significantly improved over the last twenty years due to the efforts of the cooperative and its members.
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