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Blue Open Front Cotton Cardigan Sweater from Guatemala, 'Cotton Cloud'

Product ID: U485512

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Blue Open Front Cotton Cardigan Sweater from Guatemala, 'Cotton Cloud'

5.0 (artist rating)

Delivery Estimate

This item is available for pre-order and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Learn More

Available in 2 to 8 weeks. Learn More

Details

Natural cotton fibers and recycled denim thread make up this soft cadet blue cardigan sweater. Presented by artisan Luisa Villavicencio of Guatemala, the sweater has long sleeves and a loose, open front that is both fashionable and flattering.

Made in Guatemala

  • 100% cotton, recycled denim
  • Lay flat to dry or tumble dry on low heat
  • Promotes recycling and reduces waste
  • Hand wash or machine wash separately in cold water
  • Free Gift Wrap? Yes
  • Premium Gift Wrap? Yes
  • 0.19 kgs
  • 0.4 lbs
  • M: 55.9 cm Length (from high-point shoulder) x 86.4 cm Bust/chest x 76.2 cm Sleeve (center neck to cuff)
  • M: 22" Length (from high-point shoulder) x 34" Bust/chest x 30" Sleeve (center neck to cuff)
  • L: 58.4 cm Length (from high-point shoulder) x 91.4 cm Bust/chest x 76.2 cm Sleeve (center neck to cuff)
  • L: 23" Length (from high-point shoulder) x 36" Bust/chest x 30" Sleeve (center neck to cuff)
  • XL: 59.7 cm Length (from high-point shoulder) x 101.6 cm Bust/chest x 81.3 cm Sleeve (center neck to cuff)
  • XL: 23.5" Length (from high-point shoulder) x 40" Bust/chest x 32" Sleeve (center neck to cuff)
View in metric units View in US/English units

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Luisa Villavicencio

Meet the Artist

Artfully crafted by Luisa Villavicencio from Central America.

 

Meet the Artist

Luisa Villavicencio

Luisa Villavicencio

5.0 (artist rating)

"All our creations are 100% ecological, 100% natural undyed cotton that reveals the natural shades of the fiber. People are sometimes surprised to learn that we use no dying process at all."

"Nature gives the color and we give it shape…. "I'm a Guatemalan woman, born into a family where respect for the... "Nature gives the color and we give it shape….

"I'm a Guatemalan woman, born into a family where respect for the environment and for our country's culture have always been a part of our daily life. The story of why I'm here and do what I do is really the story of my whole family, beginning with my parents.

"My father was always passionate about growing cotton. No matter how small the harvest, no matter how bad the weather, he never wanted to raise coffee or corn or anything else. He was an agronomy engineer and was enthusiastic about cotton and with preserving the cultivation of a crop that originated with the Maya culture.

"Cotton used to be abundant in Guatemala but it's been slowly disappearing over the years. Today, our 17 acres of cotton fields are the only ones left in the country. We are the only cotton farm in Guatemala.

"All our creations are 100% ecological, 100% natural undyed cotton that reveals the natural shades of the fiber. People are surprised to learn that we use no dying process at all, but it's true. What's more, the color becomes more intense when the garment is washed.

"We work with only three pure colors. Apart from the crude cotton color everyone is familiar with, we also use a seed known as ixcaco in the Maya language. It originated in the mountains with the ancient Maya civilization and produces brown cotton. We call our third color jade. My father and brother researched a way to obtain it by modifying the brown cotton seed and they were able to!

"Some time ago, we began working with a company that recycles denim scraps and remnants on a large scale. Their process is free of chemicals and dyes and saves more than 5,000 gallons of water. This fiber is 100% natural and is biodegradable. Because we have a strong commitment to social responsibility and to the environment, we wanted to adapt this fabric to our apparel, using materials with an endless cycle of life.

"All our crop is destined for our own designs except for a small portion that we donate to the Ixchel Museum in Guatemala City. This museum works to preserve Guatemala's native textiles and clothing, a cause we strongly identify with. Also, my mother collaborated with this museum for many, many years because she had the soul of an artist and loved our country's textiles. She helped the weavers and it was there that she learned to work with them and teach them quality, design, etc. The teaching went both ways, as she'd tell me how much she learned from the artisans.

"In 1995, my father and brother founded our fashion workshop. Once they had achieved the colors and could manage their cultivation, they began thinking about the final product they could create with our cotton. They contacted artisans who gave them ideas, created samples, and the first designs were sweaters. They opened the retail shop we have today.

"Despite my mother's knowledge of weaving and textiles, she didn't want to become involved in my father's project. But he became ill in 2001 and so my mother decided to lend a hand with the work. We owe her our quality, our image and the design of our Maya cottons.

"My parents began this project and dedicated their entire lives to the work. There were no Sundays or holidays for them.

"I lost both my parents in a period of only two years. After my mother died, I decided to help my father with his work. He passed away just one year later. Those were very difficult times but I'm happy I can carry on their work.

"There are 80 artisans working with us. Some are civil war widows, others always felt that they couldn't do anything and we've been able to change that negative self image. Some of them work on a traditional loom, others in small family workshops… and of course others help cultivate the cotton.

"We couldn't leave all these people without jobs. A lot of families depend on us. I feel I have a great duty to them, to my parents and to my country, whose textile tradition should not be lost. And I'm happy to have a goal like this in my life.

"Today, I am the designer and we have a lot more items in our clothing collection because that's what I enjoy doing. My inspiration comes from the love my parents instilled in me for preserving our Guatemalan culture. Today, my greatest challenge is to keep my parents' story alive and expand our horizons."

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This item qualifies for FREE SHIPPING!

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Return instructions

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This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Artists love to get backorders. Placing a backorder ensures that the artisan will do their best to create and deliver your item to our local office for shipment.

Although we cannot guarantee availability, we do expect to be able to fill the order within the timeframe indicated. But sometimes life happens - special materials may not be immediately available to the artist, or there might be some other circumstance beyond our control that could delay the shipment.

If for any reason we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will notify you.

In the unlikely even that we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will contact you and provide an updated delivery window.

This item has a special shipping flat fee which means that due to bulk, duties, or other special requirements, the item will be shipped to you via one of our special one-rate services. Shipping is only available to the United States (lower 48 States only).

WOMEN S M L XL XXL
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
BUST 35 - 36 37 - 38 39 - 41 42 - 44 46 - 48
WAIST 27 - 28 29 - 30 31 - 33 34 - 36 38 - 40
HIPS 37 - 38 39 - 40 42 - 43 45 - 46 49 - 50
MEN S M L XL XXL
CHEST 36 - 38 39 - 41 42 - 44 46 - 48 50 - 52
WAIST 30 - 32 32 - 34 35 - 37 38 - 41 43 - 45
NECK 14 - 14.5 15 - 15.5 16 - 16.5 17 - 17.5 18 - 18.5
SLEEVE 32.5 33.5 34.5 35.5 36.5
FINDING YOUR SIZE

Take your measurements with the tape measure over your under garments. If your measurements fall between sizes you may prefer the next larger size. Inseam, skirt and dress lengths vary by style and will be listed in the item description. Our sweaters are knit in standard American sizes, however actual measurements vary by style.

BUST / CHEST

Measure around the fullest part of chest under the arms and over the shoulder blades keeping the tape measure level.

WAIST

Measure around the smallest part of the waist keeping the tape measure comfortably loose. Most garments use the low waist measurement noted below.

LOW WAIST

Measure around the body approximately 1.5" below the natural waist (above). This is the area where most pants and skirts actually fit.

HIPS

Standing with your heels together, measure around the fullest part of the body approx 7"-8" below the waist.

NECK

Measure around the base of the neck keeping the tape measure comfortably loose.

SLEEVE

Bend elbow slightly and starting at the center back of the neck, measure across the shoulder, to the elbow and down to the wrist.

INSEAM

Our standard inseam length for women is 32" and 34" for men; however inseam measurements will vary slightly by style.

 

Belts with buckles are measured in inches that correspond to a waist size however, most people do not wear belts on the waist, they wear them closer to the hips. A buckle belt measurement is take from the end of the "pin" of the buckle to the middle hole on the belt. Generally there are 5 holes for size adjustment, with a 1" space between each, so the middle hole will the be average size of the belt.

For at tie belt (no buckle) measure the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This again is the medium size of the belt.

For a soft fabric tie belt it can be called "1 size fits most" and the entire length of the belt should be measured and listed.

See buckle/tie belt size standards below.

WOMEN S M L XL  
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
inches 26 - 30 28 - 32 31 - 35 34 - 38 38 - 42
cm 76 - 86 81.5 - 91.5 86.5 - 96.5 91.5 - 101.5 96.5 - 106.5

+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm

MEN S M L XL XXL
inches 30 - 34 32 - 36 35 - 39 39 - 43 43 - 47
cm 81.5 - 91.5 86.5 - 96.5 91.5 - 101.5 96.5 - 106.5 109 - 119

+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm

Sash tie length

Lay sash/tie out flat away from the garment and measure from end to end.

Belt with buckle

Measure from the end of the pin of the buckle (where it touches the buckle) to the middle hole.

Belt without buckle

Measure from the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This is will give you the medium size of the belt.

Download our printable ring sizing chart to find the perfect fit!

DOWNLOAD

We refer to these items as "discounted wholesale". Such items carry a deeper wholesale discount than other items, and have greater potential to provide your business with healthier resale margins.

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