From the mountains of Tlaquilpa in Veracruz to the great metropolis of Mexico City, Nancy Carvajal always carries with her the unshakable spirit of her land and passion for her roots.

Between two worlds, Nancy Carvajal is molded with the energy of the city and the wisdom of Tlaquilpa, and she finds a balance in her dual identity.

Nancy Carvajal compares her life to a chayote sprout. Despite the complexity of the economic activity in Tlaquilpa, she takes the initiative and brings the art of her community to the city, thus turning obstacles into opportunities.

In Mexico City, Nancy Carvajal, as a domestic worker, turned every home into a showcase for Tlaquilpa. By selling her craft, she wove a bridge between her urban life and the traditions of her homeland.

By introducing the cochineal and its vibrant red color from the valley of Mexico in Tlaquilpa, Nancy Carvajal intertwines stories and lives.

Her journey, which is a dance between tradition and modernity, symbolizes personal and community resilience.

In her journey towards innovation, Nancy Carvajal has rescued old techniques to make smaller pieces without losing their essence. These reduced garments are more attractive to the market and allow for larger scale production.

Although the competition among artisans is growing, Nancy Carvajal stands out at fairs, and continues to create community connections and to strengthen the culture of Tlaquilpa.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its challenges prompted Nancy Carvajal to enter the digital world to promote and sell her family's art.

Through the "Nancy Carvajal," "Tekimalakatl," and WhatsApp digital platforms, Nancy connects Tlaquilpa with a constantly changing world, and adapts its craftsmanship to the modern market.

Nancy Carvajal, a bridge between Tlaquilpa and Mexico City, shows us how resilience and adaptation can give rise to a cultural renaissance.

In the majestic region of X-Pichil, located in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo, Amanda Tah Arana together with the Loo'l Pich collective, composed of 20 artisans, strive to preserve their ancestral traditions through the art of embroidery.

The art of embroidery has been passed down in the Maya region for generations. It is thanks to matriarchs such as mothers and grandmothers that young people learn to weave the stories and cosmologies of their town.

What started in 2011 with just six artisans is now a robust network that celebrates collaboration. The unity and diversity of the collective is what makes them special.

The commitment of these women goes beyond their community. They travel to different populations, for example, towns near Tulum, to teach courses where they teach and preserve their techniques.

Despite modern pressures, the Loo'l Pich collective has managed to adapt by combining contemporary designs with traditional motifs and techniques. 

In addition to the traditional huipil or hipil, the artisans have produced, among other things, shirts, swimwear, tennis shoes, and face coverings.

Each piece is a testament to an evolving culture.

Guided by Amanda and other teachers, many young people have shown an interest in learning these techniques. They are the connection between the past and the future.

Every month, the workshop is filled with laughter, stories, and teachings. At these meetings it is not uncommon to see granddaughters next to their grandmothers, from whom they absorb every movement and every stitch and incubate their own love for embroidery.

The meetings are much more than a beautiful coexistence; in them, the artisans share techniques and innovations, and discuss the direction and vision of the collective.

In X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Amanda and the Loo'l Pich collective weave stories and traditions by adapting to a constantly changing world.