Origèn. Working in partnership with indigenous people.

For over 15 years owner Rose Marie Stirling and her mother Elvira Sposito have spent extensive periods of time with the the descendants of the Mayas in the highlands of Guatemala. Strong alliances have been established with artisan families who supply our range of brilliantly hued and embroidered bags.

Our policy of direct trade ensures the money earned goes directly to the artisan. This unique partnership brings self-sufficiency to Indigenous communities and introduces Australians to exquisite handmade fashion.

It is easy to fall in love with this world of timeless cultures where the descendants of the Mayan civilisation work the land and make beautiful handcrafts as they have for centuries.

This life sounds ideal but it is set against a backdrop of oppression and political corruption. Despite the constant struggle to survive, the descendants of these mysterious ancient civilisations have maintained crafts that existed well before the invasion of the Spanish conquistadors and corrupt dictatorships. Origen’s partnership with the artisans means much to the soul of the business. Direct trade ensures the money earned goes directly to the artisan and is not siphoned off into the hands of unscrupulous ‘traders’. Origen’s aim is to ensure the artisans are paid a fair price, and to keep alive these artistic traditions.