KWABLA has partnered with cultural artisans from the village of Sololá. Located in the mountains of Guatemala near Lake Atitlán, Sololá is the home to many indigenous peoples who trace their roots to the Mayan culture. Most common of these include the Cakchiqueles , Quiches and Tzutuiles. Artisans from these cultures specialize in creating beautifully colorful apparel, bags, dolls, and accessories. To browse KWABLA's catalogue of cultural goods or listing of cultural artisans from Guatemala, click on the icons at the bottom of the page. Guatemala has a long history of indigenous peoples, most notably the Mayans. The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year civil war. Just 10 years ago, in 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the civil war, which had left more than 100,000 people dead and had created some 1 million refugees. Guatemala is the largest and most populous of the Central American countries with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. Guatemala has a heavily agricultural based economy accounting for about one-fourth of GDP, two-thirds of exports, and half of the work force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products of Guatemala. The end of the civil war in 1996, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, but Guatemala is still plagued by political violence, drug trafficking, and corruption which reduce foreign investment in the economy. The distribution of income remains highly unequal with approximately 75% of the population below the poverty line. The hard life for many people in Guatemala forces them to leave their homes to find better opportunities for work and their family. Many Guatemalans enter Mexico illegally seeking work for themselves and money for their families or as a way to eventually travel to the United States. To browse KWABLA's catalogue of original works of art created by artisans of the Cakchiquel indigenous culture or view a listing of cultural artisans from Guatemala, click on the icons below. Catalogue of Cultural Goods from Guatemala Listing of Cultural Artisans from Guatemala