Backstrap Weaving Demo with Carmen Vazquez-Mackay

Alberta Craft is excited to welcome back Carmen from Ixchel Textiles for an inspiring demonstration. We encourage you to stop by, ask questions, and even try your hand at this beautiful ancient art form! 

About the artist: Carmen Vazquez-Mackay (she/her) was born and raised on the traditional lands of the Maya, Nahua Pipil, and Lenca peoples in present-day El Salvador. As the founder of Ixchel Textiles, her work is rooted in the traditional Mesoamerican art of backstrap loom weaving—an intimate, embodied practice that connects her to ancestral knowledge, cultural memory, and the sacred feminine. Carmen began exploring backstrap loom weaving after spending extended time in Mexico. Her textiles are woven slowly and intentionally using a traditional loom anchored to her body and a fixed point, in keeping with the ancient techniques passed down through generations of Indigenous women. Her work reflects a deep respect for handmade processes and the connections between land, maker, and material. Through her handwoven textiles and accessories, Carmen blends heritage craft with contemporary design.