Micaela Handwoven Backstrap Wool Cushion

- These cushions are made from backstrap woven wool textiles from Southern Mexico - Every piece is comprised of wool that is washed, carded, and spun by hand on a traditional drop spindle - The wool is then used to weave these pieces on a traditional backstrap loom - Once the pieces is complete, it is removed from the loom, then put through an intensive washing process to shrink the piece and help to encourage density - In all, the entire process to create one of the textile pieces is 20 – 30 days, depending on the weaver in question - As these textiles are so time consuming, we currently partner with ten artisan women for orders of these textiles - They are the same textiles that we use as bases for our pompom cushions - The cushions are sewn on machine for clean lines, and feature a back envelope opening - We chose to keep the raw edge of on the envelope opening, as it speaks to the traditional backstrap weaving process - The tassels are made by hand from industriously-made Mexican wool by a weaver in another state who needed to make extra money to pay for his young daughter’s expensive medical bills - We donate the scraps from these cushions back to our weavers, who sew them into stuffed animals, bags and other small pieces that they sell for their own profit in the local markets - These textiles are woven by indigenous women in the highlands of Southern Mexico