Purépecha artisans in the community of Tzintzuntzan, Michoacán, Mexico. (2023-09-08) by Samuel Piñón FloresSecretaría de Cultura
Mexico is home to a variety of crafts: from pottery and goldsmithing, to weaving and embroidery. This is a product of the many cultures and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Embroidery from the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura
One of the most popular crafts in Mexico is textiles, mixing traditional techniques with contemporary culture to create beautiful products. Let's meet seven artisans who are honoring their heritage within their craft today.
From her grandmother she learned to take care of the sheep and to love the countryside.
She 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.
Rufina Villa Hernandez
Originally from Cuetzalan, Puebla, Hernandez is a member of an indigenous women's organization that, since 1985, protects the families of her community. From the age of 7, she began to embroider with her mother bei her first teacher. Years later she continues to refine her art.
Since 2005, Rufina has managed the Taselotzin hotel, a refuge and fair trade space for artisans. Here she founded the collective Masehual Siuamej Mosenyolchikauanij – the name comes from the nahual, which in Spanish means "Indigenous women who they support".
The collective's embroideries are living capsules of Teenek history, with colors that represent identity and symbols that tell their stories. Under Santiago's guidance, the collective's members are actively writing the next chapter of their legacy.
The rich cosmology and history woven into each embroidery represents both the ancestral legacy and livelihood for many families. Thanks to the art of embroidery, these women like Amanda have found economic independence.
From the creation of sketches to the experimentation with colors on the fabric, the creative process of these women begins as soon as the sun rises.
Each of the scenes captured on the canvas is a piece of Tzintzuntzan culture.
Embroidery from the Masehual Cihuamej Collective, in Cuetzalan, Puebla, Mexico. (2023-08-24) by Manuel de Jesús Pérez GarcíaSecretaría de Cultura
