Continuing Textile Traditions : The Fair Trade Journey of Mayamam Weavers
November 20, 2025
Join WARP for our November Continuing Textile Traditions panel discussion, as we learn the story of how the formation of a weaving cooperative in Guatemala led to two thriving businesses in Guatemala and the United States. Caryn Maxim, Robin Grunder, and Jennifer Webster of Mayamam Weavers will share the story how their Fair Trade business developed out of their work with Tejadoras Maya Mam and how they continue to work together today. They will be joined by Maria Vail and Sonia Velasquez, two members of the Tejedoras Maya Mam weaving cooperative in Guatemala, who will share how their cooperative is organized, how quality control works in their cooperative, and how they are developing the Guatemalan market.
This event is free and open to all. Please note that if you would like to attend but are unavailable at the time listed, register anyway and you will receive a link to the recording as soon as it is available.
Panelists:
After a business career spanning corporate finance and her own business in tourism, Caryn Maxim began volunteering with a community group of returned migrants in Cajolá, Guatemala that she had met in the U.S. They had a dream to develop their community and eliminate forced migration. The weaving cooperative Tejedoras Maya Mam grew out of her work organizing women in Cajola, and Mayamam Weavers in the U.S. was the result!
Following ten years as a preschool director, Jennifer Webster returned to her marketing roots when she offered to open an Instagram account for Mayamam Weavers in 2015. The position soon evolved into a full-time role, where she is a self-taught product and editorial photographer, social media manager, and email marketing specialist, while also supporting customer service for Mayamam Weavers North America.
After a career in communications and design, Robin Grunder joined Mayamam Weavers as the (volunteer) Creative Director. She is responsible for all aspects of design including new products and marketing.
Maria Vail entered Maya Mam Weavers as a (talented) backstrap weaver. Because she was already pursuing secondary education she was made Coordinator of Sales and Marketing. It was a learn on the job position. Over time she has acquired the skills and experience to be able to manage the Sales and Marketing for the cooperative. She is a member of the Coordination team that runs the business. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Business Management.
Sonia Velasquez entered Maya Mam Weavers in quality control. She is currently working on her Master’s in educational psychotherapy. She volunteers with Grupo Cajola’s Learning Center program to work with special needs children. She has brought systemization to the quality control process. She is a member of the Coordination team that manages Tejedoras Maya Mam.
