Sewing for survival
By Betsy Bowman February 8, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Hacienda La Trinidad Trip
Sat, Feb 16, 9am–4pm
Center for Global Justice
Calzada de la Luz 42
300 pesos, Reserve: 150-0025

On February 16, the Center for Global Justice returns to the sewing cooperative Hacienda La Trinidad in El Moral. Beautiful blouses made by this co-op are sold at the Mujeres Productoras shop at the Center and in Stall 22 in the artisans’ market. The designers and makers of these blouses banded together in 1999 to start their co-op. Here’s part of their story.

In 1999, 26 women were involved; today only seven remain. The high attrition rate is due to several things. First, organizing the production of anything is hard work with no immediate pay-off. It takes several years of dedicated, consistent work to generate the cash surplus to pay salaries. And costs are incurred during this time—legal costs for incorporation; the cost of travel to Guanajuato, Mexico City and San Miguel for application to municipal, state and federal offices for funding; and other expenses. The second major problem the women encountered that led to high attrition was the opposition of their husbands. Mexico is still a traditional, patriarchal society where husbands rule and wives are not allowed far away from the home. Sometimes I wonder what effect the absence of so many husbands working in the US will be on the women of Mexico. Maybe in another generation we will look back to this time as the beginning of the spread of the women’s movement to the great majority of Mexican women.

Meanwhile, the women of the sewing co-op need help designing and marketing their products. They also need to find a source of high quality fabrics. They make school uniforms, young children’s clothes and women’s clothes. Their main need now is for a vehicle to market the clothes they make. Currently they market their wares by carrying them on a public bus to neighboring communities on market day. The revolving loan fund of the Center for Global Justice has raised US$2,000, but more money is needed for a reliable, used, 4-wheel drive vehicle. 

Come join us to learn firsthand of their struggles and successes, and also to enjoy a meal including some of the best mole I’ve ever eaten! The 300-peso fee covers transportation, comida, translation and guide. Come by the office or call 150-0025 to reserve your space.

Betsy Bowman is a research associate with the Center for Global Justice.