Two Mayan weaving techniques
Discover the secrets behind Mayan net hammocks and traditional fabric hammocks from Guatemala. Hammocks and hanging chairs are part of everyday life in Guatemala. Two centuries-old Mayan weaving traditions, have shaped the two authentic types of hammocks and hanging chairs we offer today. Each technique reflects a deep connection between culture, craftsmanship, and comfort.
Mayan Fabric Hammocks and Hanging-Chairs
Even though they are handmade, our hammocks require traditional tools. To weave the fabric for our hammocks, we mainly use a ‘Mayan wooden loom’, and for our fishermen’s hammocks, the main tool is the ‘weaving shuttle’.
Mayan Looms
The way a community produces its textiles is a fundamental expression of its culture. The Maya still use unique ancestral techniques to create colorful, finely crafted, and highly durable textiles. Typical fabrics, along with the embroidered garments known as huipiles, worn by many Indigenous communities, are the greatest expression of this living heritage in Guatemala. Traditional looms, skillfully operated using both hands and feet and similar in design to those used several centuries ago, are still employed today to weave the fabrics used for our mayan hammocks.
The quality of our fabric hammocks (view category) reflects the remarkable craftsmanship of indigenous artisans, who are able to produce high-quality textiles using traditional tools. The use of a wooden Maya loom, such as the one shown above, is a clear example of these time-honoured methods of production.
Because the looms have a fixed width, the woven fabric pieces must then be sewn together by hand. Two strips of fabric are used for single hammocks, and three strips for larger sizes. Mainly carried out by women, this hand-stitching forms a distinctive multicoloured arrow-shaped pattern.
Weaving shuttle
A shuttle, the same tool as the one used for weaving fishing nets around the world. Compared to a fishing net, the way the threads are woven on a hammock differs in its complexity. This unique pattern is what makes Mayan fisherman hammocks, the first worldwide, so comfortable. A real art, the same as the one used in the neighbor region of Yucatán. A repetitive but complex pattern which takes years to master and make of those net hammocks and hanging-chairs, perfect furniture for daily use.
Bike-machine
Did we already tell you that innovation is part of the process of fabrication of our Fisherman’s hammocks and chairs? Our partner Alfonson is using an self-made innovative bike machine to gather the thin cotton threads into a soft, extensible and strong string. This machine makes it possible to produce ecologically with no external source of energy, just human power and half of an old bike. An artisanal process that also gives part of its incomparable softness to our net hammocks and hanging-chairs. See the article about the threads fabrication human powered with pedal machine
Three-thread mesh
The mesh of our fisherman’s net hammocks is crafted in the Yucatán style. Each mesh is generally made of three twisted threads. Depending on the region and the artisan, the number of threads per mesh may vary. This traditional weaving pattern gives our hammock exceptional softness, flexibility, and strength, regardless of the resting position.
Tradition meets innovation
Traditions are treasures that evolve and get improved within time. Even so, many movements remain the same for ages, clever innovations are also part of the fabrication process! Most technics were improved over time, from the material used, originally vegetable fibers from plants like Sisal – view the page about history of mayan hammocks, to the techniques involved to make it a soft and comfortable end product in cotton, wool or sedalina (nylon). We just metionned some of the reasons why Mayan hammocks are still considered among the best in the world today.
La Antigua Guatemala
The former capital of the country is a wonderful place to visit and surely one treasure of Guatemala! La Antigua Guatemala is a typical colonial town with paved street and colored houses. The traditional celebrations and the colorful clothes worn by many native people are a testimony of the living Mayan culture. On the local markets, you can find many Mayan handicraft, like jade and traditional textiles similar to the one used in the confection of our Mayan fabric hammocks.
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To the present times, a great part of Mayan women are wearing traditional clothing. The conception of such clothes involves many hours of weaving. Textiles can actually represent a considerable part of the budget of Mayan women’s. Rich in colors and symbols, the traditional fabrics are often depicting some life forms like flowers and animals. The fine textile of our fabric hammocks and hanging chairs is also testimony of the dexterity of the mayan to craft quality fabric with some native technics and tools, like the traditional wooden looms used by our partner Mario.
The Pacific Coast
The pacific coast of Guatemala is only at a few hours reach from La Antigua. The climate like the way of living are however quite different. Hammocks are present inside or in front of every local houses with palm roofs. The handicraft of weaving hammocks is an ancient tradition of this tropical area. Fisherman’s net hammocks, similar to the ones from nearby Yucatán. Inhabitants living on this dark sandy volcanic coast of the Pacific often spend a few hours of the day laying or sleeping in such hammocks.
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The Pacific coast of Guatemala, from Monterrico to Taxisco, is a raw, sun-drenched stretch of black-sand beaches, mangroves, and fishing villages that pulse with local life. Monterrico is famed for its relaxed surf, sea turtle conservation, and the rustic charm of palapa-covered beachfronts. Paredón offers an untouched, sleepy vibe, where artisanal fishing boats dot the shoreline and the waves call to surfers seeking solitude. Puerto San José is the region’s working port, full of movement, local markets, and the salty scent of the sea. As you move toward Taxisco in Escuintla, the coast opens to quieter, more hidden sands, where traditional livelihoods blend seamlessly with the rhythm of the tides. Here, the Pacific feels alive yet unpolished, a place where nature and community still define the coastline.
Resistance and compliance
Both types of hammocks have passed compliance tests relating to various standards in force in the European Economic Area. These tests were carried out at the end of 2022 by the specialist Intertek | Total quality. Assured. These analyses confirmed the compliance of both types of hammocks and hanging chairs.
Our hammocks are designed to last and have undergone compliance and resistance tests carried out by an independent body (Intertek). Find out about the tests and standards applied to our hammocks.
Unity in variety
Most of our hammocks and hanging chairs are manufactured in 100% soft and robust organic cotton. The way our craftsmen are weaving and coloring the yarn varies depending on the hammock. Natural cotton, wool and sedalina, a mix of fiber containing mainly nylon, are the ideal materials to guarantee our clients a perfect level of comfort while laying in their hammock. There are many advantages to using cotton compared to synthetic materials, one of them is that it’s hypoallergenic. All our hanging-chairs and hammocks provide you a high resistance and softness. Our handmade products are mainly crafted in natural materials, from the hammocks to the traditional wooden masks that you will found under the Other mayan handicraft category of our shop.
Engagement for quality: “Our vision of fair trade”
We make all what’s possible to offer the best quality of handcrafted furniture while supporting a community! Working directly with our partner and can guarantee that there are no extra intermediaries. We are not only selling our partners products, but we are working together with them. Keeping close relations with them, that what is allowing us to work on exclusive products and to take part in innovation. It also allows us to control of the quality of the Mayan hammocks and hanging-chairs we are offering and sending from Guatemala and Switzerland around the world. Do we want to do more than that in the future? Of course! We are already supporting one of our craftsman in the acquisition of a field, and we would like to contribute by making new spaces available for Mayan crafts and its learning.
Verified ownerCommande simple, livraison rapide et sécurisée, produit de qualité donc tout simplement MERCI !
Trés beau hamac filet. De vraies mailles souples qui ne laissent pas de marques et même un petit cadeau!
Authentic handicraft and unique colors. Gracias.
