Life is a task, is making, life is interaction between individual tasks, of dynamic formation of cooperation, and this is why the principal expression of handicraft in Sigsig in general and of the association of toquilla straw knitters "Maria Auxiliadora" is the making of toquilla straw products. Man, woman, children of both sexes in all villages are dedicating themselves to the weaving of toquilla straw.

Weaving is an art of interweaving fibers, to move with knowledge hands an fingers under the guidance of the skill learned with the years; too the use of different instruments and rudimentary machines which are complementary to our hands.

The association of toquilla straw knitters "Maria Auxiliadora" is formed by 410 woman knitters, most of them being member since 1990. More than a decade of organized work, constant empowerment, solidarity, shared responsibility that allowed a solid and productive growth. Passing the time we saw the crystallization of our dreams and the achievement of some of our goals in the social, economic and organizational areas. This converted us in a group of members and person sisterly united within the community of Sigsig.

Weaving a life means weaving a new history in one of the most numerous organizations of women. Its life is like the weaving a wide and endless range of products made out of toquilla straw using very traditional processes of production, linked to individual creativity of each of our women, influenced by her taste and the heritage of former generations. Her lives are a mixture of the intimate contact of her hands with the earth, the straw and other activities in her household like stockbreeding, farming, selling between others. Her dreams are of this kind hoping to improve her living standard and are accompanied with the desire of being a successful, happy and active woman.

The target of the association is taking new ways and to let the whole world know the work we offer. Our challenge of offering a wide range of excellent products with different models, colors a designs, which allows satisfying our distinguished clients.

Right now we are selling our product at local, national level and we are already exporting the whole range of our products. It is the goal that with the work of the women and the handing over of the leaders the organization will be consolidated as a real enterprise with the pass of time. This will allow that our products will be sold all over the world competing with the traditional export companies in quality and price.

The formation of this organization is one of the progresses that the knitters of the canton Sigsig achieved in the last years. This was possible due to the appreciation of all persons, which knew us and the constant learning from organization, and persons that collaborated with the association. This allowed the diversification of our designs and the improvement of all of our products.

The prodigious hands of those women, which not only taking great care every day by weaving this beautiful crafts like bags, hats and handbags, making alive their culture and tradition but too looking to improve there life for themselves, children, families and society itself. By this they are not only contributing to the personal progress but to the progress of Ecuador.