The bench enables women artisans to protect
their health while producing more textiles of
better quality. As a result, they increase their
ability to provide for their families, and also
preserve their weaving culture.
their health while producing more textiles of
better quality. As a result, they increase their
ability to provide for their families, and also
preserve their weaving culture.
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| Here's how you can help |
- A kit and technical support for carpenters, ensuring that
the ergonomic features of the design are preserved.
This will benefit the weavers,while also enhancing the
skills and livelihood of local carpenters.
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| Copyright © 2007-2008 Synergo Arts. All rights reserved. |
The Synergo™ weaving bench program
Our current focus is getting the bench into the hands of the
women who need it, in a way that is truly self-empowering.
women who need it, in a way that is truly self-empowering.
- Training services and educational materials for
weavers, including a poster with simple pictures, a
trainer's manual, and a DVD in Spanish and
indigenous languages to make the education
accessible to all.
Videos: including an interview with Global X
We are preparing educational resources to enable local
communities to produce and distribute the bench with high
quality at a reasonable price. Our goal is to help Latin
American entrepreneurs learn to do this so they are not
dependent on outside support.
communities to produce and distribute the bench with high
quality at a reasonable price. Our goal is to help Latin
American entrepreneurs learn to do this so they are not
dependent on outside support.
This exciting program is an excellent example
of how artisans can benefit from ergonomics.
of how artisans can benefit from ergonomics.
These resources are expected to become available in 2008:
The traditional method of weaving
with the backstrap loom is very
hard on the weaver’s body. Pain,
numbness, and fatigue limit
weaving tolerance (often to less
than half an hour), and are readily
evident in how slowly and stiffly a
weaver moves when she gets up
from the ground.
with the backstrap loom is very
hard on the weaver’s body. Pain,
numbness, and fatigue limit
weaving tolerance (often to less
than half an hour), and are readily
evident in how slowly and stiffly a
weaver moves when she gets up
from the ground.
The Synergo™ Weaving Bench
provides women with a viable
alternative to the traditional
kneeling posture. The bench
rocks with the rhythm of the
weaver's body as she works with
the backstrap loom. The seat is
padded, and can be adjusted to
fit the individual weaver. An
interlocking footrest provides
stability and leverage
provides women with a viable
alternative to the traditional
kneeling posture. The bench
rocks with the rhythm of the
weaver's body as she works with
the backstrap loom. The seat is
padded, and can be adjusted to
fit the individual weaver. An
interlocking footrest provides
stability and leverage
| Traditional posture, kneeling to weave |
| Weaving with the ergonomic bench |
Here's what Mayan women are saying:
“What used to take me three days to weave now takes two.”
“I used to be able to weave for 30 minutes, then had to quit
for the pain; now I can weave for three hours with no pain.”
for the pain; now I can weave for three hours with no pain.”
The cloth “comes off the loom with straighter edges and more
evenly packed weft,” and “it's cleaner because it’s not so
close to the ground while it’s being woven."
evenly packed weft,” and “it's cleaner because it’s not so
close to the ground while it’s being woven."
And from their daughters:
“I want a bench like my
mother has now, so my
body won't get the years
of abuse and pain that
hers has.”
mother has now, so my
body won't get the years
of abuse and pain that
hers has.”
History: pilot project and awards