Fire: one of the last remaining forms of magic
One of the four elements, fire has captivated humanity since primitive times. It represents purification and has been used in rituals for ages, from burials to births to cleansings.
Candles are a manifestation of fire that we use even now, and even in the simplest of rituals such as lighting a birthday candle.
Guatemalan Textile Art
Textiles are an essential part of ancient Guatemalan culture, one that has been handed down for millennia. Not only are Guatemalan textiles beautiful works of art, they also have long-lasting significance.
Textiles have been woven using traditional methods and tools such as backstrap looms. Historically, this artful skill has been passed down from mother to daughter as a rite of passage.
Over time, different regions adopted patterns as their own, and a trained eye can oftentimes tell where a piece came from by its pattern.
Guatevelas fuses two ancient forms of Mayan magic and tradition: fire and textiles
Our Artisans
Victor, 38 years old
The artisan duo that craft Guatevelas candles come from families with long-lasting legacies as artisans. Victor and Edwin enjoy their work because it requires attention to detail and it fills them with pride to think that their work will be appreciated and admired. They believe that an artisan develops their talent through experience, experimentation, and love of the craft.
Edwin, 21 years old
Both Victor and Edwin are members of a grassroots association that helps local Guatemalan artisans to thrive. The association helps them to sell their art, provides access to small loans, and helps them to build up savings, among other benefits.
How Guatevelas candles are made
Mold design & preparation
Guatevelas artisans design and select the right molds for the job. For our cyllindrical candles, the molds are made with PCV pipes, which are cut to fit the specifications of the candle. For our rectangular and ovular candles, we use aluminum molds, which are better suited for custom shapes.
Once the mold is selected, it is cleaned meticulously. Then, vegan oil is applied so that when they're finished, the candles can be easily removed from the molds.
Wax preparation
Once the mold has been prepared, the wax is melted down. As the wax is melted, Guatevelas artisans add dye until the perfect color is reached.
The artisans then add wicks to the molds and the hot wax is poured on top. Afterward, the candles are left to cool for at least 8 hours.
Decoration
The candles are then decorated with our proprietary technology and each of them is sealed with a sticker to ensure its authenticity.
