Chi Chi Amor: Eco-Friendly Kids’ Fashion Made From Recycled Traditional Mayan Fabrics

I have always adored traditional Mayan textiles, especially huipils. Chi Chi Amor takes huipil and corte fabric from Guatemala and repurposes it into beautiful children’s clothing. Handmade by small family groups, Chi Chi Amor’s unique clothing are perfect for eco-conscious, globally-minded families.

Chi Chi Amor was founded by two anthropologist mothers Danielle O’Connor and Shari Feldman. “Chi Chi” refers to the town of Chichicastenango, Guatemala, where textiles are produced. “Amor” of course means love in Spanish, and it expresses for Danielle and Sheri, “the realization of our idea, our friendship, the expression of our feelings for Guatemala and its people, and the deep love that we feel for our children and families…that’s Amor!”

I particularly love the worry doll pants. These sweet pants are made from the traditional Mayan corte skirt fabric. Beautiful embroidered flowers adorn the pant legs, and a special surprise of worry dolls reside in the pockets. If you are not familiar with worry dolls, they are small Guatemalan folk dolls that are used to ease children’s anxieties. Children who have trouble going to sleep can tell the doll their worries, place them under their pillow, then rest peacefully as the doll does the worrying for them. With all of the anxiety of childhood, having worry dolls in one’s pockets would be handy to deal with the rational and irrational fears of life.

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