Meso Goods, furniture design with a big impact
As lifestyle changes have us moving away from traditional consumer models, people have become increasingly interested in purchasing from conscious brands that feel genuine and enriching, ideally with a social impact and an interesting story to tell. Guatemala-based Meso Goods is one of these brands: the decade-old company is dedicated to the design and production of handmade home décor objects focused on revealing the traditional artisanal techniques of Central America and committed to the preservation of Mayan cultural heritage, while also promoting environmental and social awareness.
We chatted with the company’s co-founder and lead designer Diego Olivero, to see how he came up with the idea for Meso Goods together with his business partner Gonzalo Pertile— how his home country of Guatemala inspires his work, and where he thinks design in Latin America is headed.
How did you come up with the idea for Meso Goods?
We started in 2010, nine years ago, with a small collection. We’ve always wanted to work with artisans to generate impact through a sustainable model, using design as a tool. We started collaborating with artisans, mostly women, meeting with them regularly to get to know how they worked, their skills and abilities. Eventually we learned how to work with them, and at the beginning, we had just 4 artisans weaving. Today, we have grown to around 50-60 artisans just in Momostenango, Guatemala, and we directly impact more than 550 artisan families. With a special focus on Latin America, our impact also reaches countries like Honduras, Peru, Mexico, India, and Haiti.
We also started participating in international fairs, presenting designs that incorporated craftsmanship. To help us monitor our impact and prices, we work with various allies around the world like USAID, Save the Children, Feed the Future, as well as Tejiendo Alimentos and Nest, a global organization based in New York which connects artisans with businesses.
Designs by Diego Olivero
How have your Guatemalan roots inspired your work?
I was born in Guatemala, and this means I was always surrounded by colors, textiles, and patterns. I moved to the United States to study industrial design, but I always knew I wanted to return to Guatemala and launch this project. Meso Goods was inspired by Guatemala.
What is your business model and how does social impact fit into the model?
The company started as a design and interiors studio, and from there we launched a furniture collection. Our mission was always to work with artisans and create an impact by collaborating on sustainable, green projects, whenever possible.
In Guatemala there are 17 million people, and 1 million of those are artisans. Meanwhile, just US $64 million worth of crafts are exported per year, meaning that these artisans are not even earning minimum wage. We saw this an opportunity to create a greater impact and scale the business. With our help and our partners’ we were able to multiply their prices by 5, increasing their income 18 times!
Tell us about the Atitlán Project.
Five years ago, I had the privilege to begin working with home goods retailer West Elm, a company that has started to reach out to smaller makers and craftsmen to create unique, handmade artisanal goods. I love my work with them because they have the ability to make a huge impact, and they are truly committed to promoting craft.
This year, West Elm launched the Atitlán Project in collaboration with Meso Goods and Roar + Rabbit as a way to support the community and artisans of Santa Catarina Palopó in Guatemala. Because of the demographic growth of the area, the profitability of traditional economic activities has been reduced to the point of not being a sustainable option for families.
In response, the community decided to transform their entire town into a massive public art installation in order to showcase their cultural and religious traditions, creating jobs, and increasing tourism and beauty in their village. I led the design efforts for Pintando Santa Catarina Palopó and partnered with West Elm and Roar + Rabbit to create a limited edition furniture collection that provides economic support for the initiative and celebrates the area’s creative community (you can see the collection here). To date West Elm has donated more than $75,000 to the project.
Where do you think Latin American design is headed?
Latin American design is booming, and people are finally starting to take advantage of the resources in the region. I find it very exciting what is happening in countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia and Guatemala. We are seeing a major shift in the creative approach of the design sector, where all practices are collaborating to create stronger design communities where design, food, fashion, and architecture all blend together.
To see Diego Olivero’s designs, go to diegoolivero.com, and to learn more about the Atitlán Project, click here.