Reclaiming Beauty
Stephanie Jolluck did not imagine when she volunteered to work for three weeks on aMayan Indian co-op inGuatmala, that she would discover the inspiration for her life's work buried deep in the Mayan culture. The 2000 year tradition of creating original textiles, an art that was slowly dieing, fasicnated Stephanie and became the basis forColeccion Luna. A line of beautiful and unique handbags, textiles and pillows made with reclaimed indigenous clothing.
Stephanie Jolluck She has now spent over a decade traveling back and forth, developing strong relationships with the artists she works with. She also uses and promotesfair trade practices and has created a whole new market for their wares. Her dedication and brave spirit are core traits she showed early on when she spent two years back packing alone through thecountry she now considers her second home.
It all starts with the shirts, you can still make out the original collar that now lines the handle of the bag above. So intricate and colorful, these garments are made over into designs of function and beauty under Stephanie's watchful eye. Her line includes handbags, messenger bags, totes, yoga matt bags and pillows.
Enter to win this lovelyColeccion Luna Tote bag. Carefully crafted, it measures 17x18 and retails for $64. Super durable, it would make a stylish travel companion over the holiday season. To win, just comment on this post and tell me about the most interesting place you have traveled to! You can also earn one bonus entry by being a Pie follower ontwitter & sending out a tweat about this giveaway. Just be sure to add a note in your comment and include your twitter id. A winner will be chosen at random, viarandom.org, entries must be made by midnight (easter time) December 14th! Also be sure to include a valid email address (no one but me can see it) with your comment.
all photos & content © Lara Rossignol
One winner per giveaway, comments must be made by midnight eastern time 12.14.09!
Monday, December 7, 2009 at 7:52AM
Reader Comments (70)
Heart-stopping bags! Lovely!
And what a marvelous blog. I am visiting from sfgirlbybay.... so happy to have found you!
Happy holidays!
gorgeous bags!!!! wow.
don't get to travel much, but when we were in florence, italy, we stopped by this little pub called 'moonlight coffee & pub'. they take dollars! 1 dollar = 1 euro there! (see?! http://www.flickr.com/photos/houseofsims/2608138232/)
i also twittered it: http://twitter.com/beepboop
brandi
I absolutely LOVE this tote. Gorgeous fabric and I love the detailing on the handle. The most interesting place I have ever been was to El Salvador where I spent 2 weeks in a social justice immersion trip with CRISPAZ, an organization committed to working for peace and economic justice for the people of El Salvador and other Latin American countries. Met some amazing people with truely inspiring stories:)
*thrilled to learn that Coleccion Luna goods are Fair Trade!
Oh, and the most amazing place I've traveled to is Glencoe in Scotland!! Magic!
So beautiful! Your pictures vividly show the wonderful texture of the fabrics! Makes me want to reach out and feel them!
My son spent a week in Guatemala this year and fell in love with it! He is really hoping to go back and practice his Spanish.
The most interesting place I have been was Sweden. I loved walking through Stockholm and seeing all the beautiful old buildings and visiting the bakeries! Rich history and culture!
I lived in Australia for 8 years as a child/teen. I can't even begin to list all the wonderful things about it! But I think, like any place, the people make the most difference in your life no matter how awesome the place itself looks and feels. I also twittered you :) http://twitter.com/kategardenghi
The most wonderful place I've ever been, which is perfect considering the Mayan fabrics used in this bag, were Tulum and Chichen Itza in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Stunning and beautiful, mystical places!
I lived in a tiny town in Venezuela when I was a kid. I ate a lot of mangoes. I also lived in Peru, Scotland, and England but not in that order. I have traveled to Argentina and interior Mexico and am trying to get to Spain next year..... where I will need a durable, cute bag.
These are absolutely gorgeous! I love the story you shared about Stephanie and how she came to create these bags.
I have not traveled very much... but I am currently going to school in Savannah, GA (I live in NC) and I hope to study in Lacoste, France this spring!
Beautiful bags! Love your site.
Beautiful bags! I love traveling to big cities. Chicago is one of my favorites because people dress up and have picnics in the park.
Haven't traveled much in recent years, but visited Paris, London, Israel and Malta during late 1990s. Malta was unique, but Paris was my favorite place to be and I was able to spend more time there and visit twice.
That's a beautiful bag!
My favorite place to visit is New Mexico. There are so many gorgeous vistas and interesting people!
I'm not the twitterer in my family, my hubby is! I'm still *waiting* for my iPhone refurb before I start that, hope that doesn't lessen my chances! I cross my heart I'll twitter it when I get my phone!
Perhaps the most interesting and exciting place I traveled to was Ireland for my honeymoon ("mi na meala" or "month of honey" as they say in Gaelic), specifically The Blasket Islands. We weren't planning to go there, although we were spending the bulk of our time in Dingle on the Dingle Peninsula, when a Welshman, a sailor, started a conversation directed at my husband with, "Good God you're ugly, where are ya from?!" As he bought us pint after pint of Guinness, he told us of the beauty of The Blasket Islands, and we just had to see it for ourselves.
They did not disappoint! From the small ferry ride to and from the main island to the lazy, relaxed hiking we did on the little island itself, the beauty and history surrounding us was breathtaking and amazing. It is easy to envision the magical Ireland of yore on this little gem, from the well worn, old homes to the stone fences to the numerous paths that take you all over it amongst sheep calmly eating clover next to you. County Kerry is the most lovely place I have ever visited in my life, and the fact that I got to share it all with the man I love during our "month of honey" made it even more wonderful.
I love these bags. I did my thesis on Guatemalan Maya dance. The most interesting place I have been is Ecuador.
Amazing bags! The most interesting place I have visited was Macchu Pichu in Peru. We also spent time in Cuzco and Lima. I heart Peru! The people, food, lifestyle - truly amazing. I'd go back in a heart beat!
Being an "embroidering fool" myself - and a self-admitted textile wonk, these photos are absolutely
inspirational. The colors are so wonderful - I am humbled by the quality of work from the
Guatamalan women. Stroke of genius for Ms. Jolluck to create these bags and give new life
to these lovely textiles. As for most interesting place? That would have to be Cinque Terre in
Italy - and a memorable walk on the Via Del'Amore.
Thanks for posting about this beautiful art form! The most interesting place I have traveled to (so far) has been Greece: starkly beautiful, and I love learning about ancient cultures (especially loved touring the islands).
The most interesting place...
It would have to be the journey- not the destination- on a bus along China roads
.
Observing beautiful people doing their daily life work. Animals. Weather. Anticipating what awaited us at the end of the journey (our daughter).
It was a great day and forever fixed in my memory.
OMG Lara...absolutely beautiful! I love the vibrant colors and designs :-)
Hmmm, I have two unusual places, or rather interesting places to add here...15,000 feet above Boulder City, NV while skydiving and Mt. Haleakala in Maui as we mountain biked down the volcano at sunrise. I wouldn't say that I'm an extremely adventurous person but both made for great memories :-)
I haven't really been out of the country but my husband is from Guatemala and I am looking forward to the day when I can go visit. I love these bags!
ok so i'm not a world traveler....the most interesting place i've visited is VEGAS baby....
following you on twitter and tweeted
iheartpiewacket
Don't miss out on this great Pie giveaway... http://www.piewacketblog.com/journal/2009/12/7/reclaiming-beauty.html
Love the bag,very intricate and colorful.the most interesting place I've ever been to is south east India,the temples and the history behind them are fascinating.
Love the bags... she is very talented!
the most interested place I have ever visited was Jamaica. I would love to retire there!
What a beautiful bag! My most interesting travelled-to place... well, that's nigh on impossible to say! Historically, it's a toss up, I suppose, between Israel and Italy. Both could be considered seats of civilization. Intellectually, for me, Berkeley California really blew me away during college, and Philadelphia Pennsylvania also has several amazing universities I've been lucky enough to attend. The whole world is interesting, really - it's all in the attitude of the person in the place!
These bags are an explosion of color in the most fantastic way. They make me smile.
The most visually amazing place I've been is Switzerland. I really didn't want to go since I don't ski or like cold weather, but we ended up going in August and the Alps and the glaciers were jaw-dropping. I'll never forget being in absolute awe of the scenery every single day.
So great to see wonderful products, crafted with love, and embracing fair trade.
As for the most interesting place I've visited, I really love the street performers that came out in the evenings around the music school in Temple Bar, Dublin.
The colors in this bag are gorgeous. Really lovely work.
The most fabulous place I have been is the island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands. The beaches were like something out of a dream. One morning at breakfast we saw a rainbow over the ocean and I was able to catch 2 pictures of it. The best was taking a yoga class at this little cabin atop a hill and being able to do yoga while looking out over this beautiful beach.
Beautiful bags!
The most wonderful place I have visited is The Cotswolds in England. Idyllic!