50 Women, One Heart

Every Monday, craftswoman María Trinidad travels around Ixmiquilpan collecting textiles made by colleagues who work from home. "It's become a habit, a routine. It helps us organize our delivery times," she explains. The week is structured around the central hub of the open-air market.

"Where will we meet?" "With the wholesalers or at the stall?" Trinidad asks. The stall is quiet: you can check embroidery, sizes, and designs away from the cries of the other vendors. With Ana the embroiderer in front of a sewing supplies store where they compare thread colors.

Ana specializes in antique embroidery, using three different styles of what's known as the Hilván technique, inspired by the region's vibrant flora and fauna. She lives an hour away from Ixmiquilpan but travels down to the market on Mondays, running her weekly errands and coordinating with Trinidad. "Everyone saves time," Trinidad explains. Everyone contributes from their own area of expertise.

Reyna transforms traditional cloth into stylish clothing. They can see each other from a distance on the bridge: she doesn't go to the market on Mondays. She takes advantage of this opportunity to buy fabrics. Trinidad collects finished designs.

Before the pandemic, they used to meet every Friday at 5:00 p.m. They checked their orders while supporting each other emotionally. "We always felt vulnerable, for financial or domestic violence reasons," Trinidad recalls. "The group was a refuge that became a textile collective."

According to Trinidad, "Life in the village is a communal, community way of life." Domitzu is not about 50 individual businesswomen competing with one another. It's a network where everyone grows together, where Mondays mean meeting up, where "see you at the stall" is a promise that's never broken. No one here weaves alone.