Getting to Work
Josefina, the president of the weaving cooperative, reviews the designs for the new products that we'll be developing. That might look like a dingy canvas tote bag in her hand, but it is actually a carefully engineered, sophisticated R&D prototype for a killer beach bag.
Brigida and Pastora check the colors of the thread against the designs. We've learned together how to create drawings that are easy for everyone to understand and that generate consistent results. As a part of this process, the women have learned to work with measuring tapes and use the color code numbers used by the thread manufacturers.
Everyone helps out.
Making looms....
Installing looms....
The women put me to work too. I learn how to spin the thread onto the loom...
And then Josefina takes over for the important work...
The women work on the prototypes at home for several days.
Santiago and I check in with them to see how it is going...
They work carefully and make great progress....
Santiago carefully reviews every detail with Adela, pointing out how each product can be improved.
We check the dimensions of the product, the faithfulness to the design and the quality of the weaving.
Then we all review the costs and decide on prices for the products together. By the end of the week, we have samples of three new product lines, in four different color combinations. And they are gorgeous.
Then they finally let me play.
