Textiles Nohemy

San Sebastián, San Vicente

Textiles Nohemy is tucked away in a town called San Sebastian, a few kilometers from San Salvador. Upon entering it is immediately clear that Noemí Ayala is in charge. She bustles around making sales, greeting customers and organizing busily. She says, with a smile, ‘’by the time I got married I already had four weaving machines’’. Her business began 40 years ago as a self-directed effort to cope with financial difficulties.

Noemí runs the store and the production workshop located at the back. It is a well-ventilated, comfortable place filled with natural light and nearly a dozen artisans working away with spindles and weaving machinery. Spools of thread are abundant, adding a picturesque brightness to the rooms. Noemi’s children are also present, helping their mother and running errands in and around the store and workshop.

Today, Noemí’s textile workshop has several pieces of equipment with one worker per machine. The store is filled with beautiful textiles – table cloths, headbands, purses, and bedclothes of any color, pattern and size imaginable. Noemí’s hard work, combined with her immediately noticeable compassion and friendliness make for a wonderful atmosphere.