hope you have been enjoying these artisan highlights from Guatemala! This will be the last email of this series so along with spotlighting a few final products, I also wanted to share some resources that I think will be helpful as you look to source inventory from Central America. First, I’ve created a guide of my top export-ready picks from Guatemala, available here as a free, downloadable PDF. I know many of you ask what materials or techniques are particularly strong in a specific country or region. As you’ll see in the guide, Guatemala has a lot to offer, including sustainable (naturally dyed and upcycled) textiles, recycled glassware, beadwork for accessories and home accents, ceramics, and natural materials (such as FSC-certified wood).

This week, I would love to tell you a bit about one of my partners from Bangladesh that offers all things made of cane. Traditionally, cane artisans in Bangladesh produced household items like baskets for carrying rice or other agricultural products. It was a skill passed down from mother to child, especially within the country’s Hindu communities. In recent years, however, plastic has slowly crept into the market, competing with natural fiber basketry.