SXSW Feature: Ashley of Seiba

When we attended the Renegade Craft Fair on Saturday in Austin, I was on the hunt for cool street style looks to capture. A girl with gorgeous long hair and sun kissed skin caught my attention. One glance and you knew she was from the west coast. Wearing a pair of cutoff shorts with a beachy sweater and ankle boots, she had such an effortlessly cool vibe about her. She was wearing what looked to be friendship bracelets, but in ways that I had never seen before. She had them wrapped around her boots, tied in her hair and belted around her waist. Before getting her picture, she walked us down to her booth at renegade and introduced us to Seiba.

ashley from seiba at booth

bracelet around boot

Ashley quickly showed us little tutorials on the way she was wearing these brightly colored weavings. I was so blown away at how versatile they were that I had to buy a couple. I’ve been wearing them around a pair of black boots ever since I returned home from Austin. I couldn’t stop saying to myself…”These are perfect for festival season!!”

You meet a lot of amazing and inspiring people at SXSW, and Ashley was one of them. I wanted to get to know a little bit more about how she started Seiba, so she filled us in on her story…

hair wrap

Following graduation, I embarked on a trip to backpack through Latin America via Mexico, Panama and Brazil. I hiked, swam, danced, laughed, cried, and explored my way through some incredible communities and natural wonders. Along the way I came across a strikingly beautiful weave. I purchased a few brightly patterned belts and found that they paired perfectly with my bikinis in the day and my jeans at night.

seiba bracelets and monkey

ashley in seiba

 When I first got the belt I started to see just how versatile it was. I would use the belt as a pocket purse (cute fanny pack) for traveling with just the necessities, as well as a purse strap and even converted one to a camera strap. 

When I returned to the US, complete strangers began approaching and asking me about the woven belt. What was it, what store did I buy it at, etc. I needed to know more, and so I followed the woven strings back to their origin and discovered an unexpected gem, Chamula.

chamula

girl weaving

Chamula is but one of many indigenous communities within the jungle highlands of Chiapas. Untouched by modern ways, their way of life is a traditional and yet complicated mix of ancient Mayan beliefs and Spanish/Mexican culture and language. Historical conflicts with “modern society” have created reclusive community, wary of outsiders.

ashley weaving

 As I explored the community I learned that despite the beauty and quality of their artwork, they lacked resources for selling it. Many artisans are forced to leave their communities to sell their crafts in the surrounding towns and cities. Others are forced to fend for themselves in the greater world in hopes of finding a way to bring money back to their families. I was saddened to see how poverty and modernization can erode their sacred traditions and break apart families. 

seiba weaver

 I believed their weave was so detailed and beautiful that it would be loved by many if it could only be seen. However, I also wanted to protect the sanctity of their villages and allow them to remain with their families. If I could build the branches to the greater world, the artisans could continue to live their natural way of life. We would be a team, a life force connecting our worlds together through fashion. We would be Seiba.

seiba in hair

Thank you for letting us in, Ashley!

Be sure to follow Seiba on Instragram, Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter!

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10 years ago

Oh my god this is SO cool! Gorgeous photos.
juliettelaura.blogspot.com

Leisa
10 years ago

Beautiful!

10 years ago

Such a inspiring story!!! I love how this wonderfully cooperative effort is a win win situation for both Ashley and the people of Chamula !!! Thank you for sharing !!!https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheWeaverOfWords

10 years ago

She is so beautiful and stylish and those bracelets are incredible!

Krystal | http://www.moorekrystal.wordpress.com

sincereju
10 years ago

this is beautiful! I love everything about this. This is why I love you guys!

Barbara
10 years ago

Hi,
I was born in Tabasco, México, Chamula is two hours away from my city, so Im familiar with all these weaves and I can tell you something: even though I grew surrounded by all these natural wonders, lush vegetation and indigenous cultures, they never cease to amaze me. Love this feature and I love seeing how tourists appreciate our ancient culture. Keep them coming

Kai
10 years ago

Viva Seiba! This is so cool!

anaette
10 years ago

this is such a wonderful story… :D

10 years ago

So those are called woven bracelets! I bought many for my friends in san cristobal, mexico. So pretty ♥ ashley has such a light inside her that comes to the outside, what a beautiful soul. Always makes me happy to see native south america people, so joyful!

10 years ago

You should first do research on the companies you endorse. It all sounds perfect and peachy, but how much are the natives actually profiting from this? If we aren’t careful we’re just supporting capitalism and the exploitation of people.

Regina
10 years ago

Hello im mexican and im really glad to see this post, as a mexican i know how wonderful some parts of mexican culture can be and im happy that others can appreciate this, but im also really glad because you can also tell the bad stuff like poverty and social differences which are horrible

TamarackAndKhus
10 years ago

Love these knotted bracelets, especially the wide ones! Seeing craft traditions from around the world can be so inspiring.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TamarackAndKhus

10 years ago

I fell apart as I read this!!! Those weavings and knots!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggghhh!!! I love to make friendship bracelets and macrame!!! So super inspiring!!!! :D :D :D :D

Suzanne
8 years ago

I worked with Ashley and she stole a bunch of my ideas and then stopped answering emails and phone calls. She doesn’t help any indigenous communities and is sadly a stereotype of growing up in the valley.