Embroidered Bonds: An Art Rooted in the Family

Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo, a place where families shape the future of the community with their embroideries

Artisan of the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura

Embroidered heritage

At the heart of X-Pichil, Amanda Tah Arana and the Loo'l Pich collective transform lives by embroidering with passion, thereby creating a tapestry of stories and traditions.

Community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura

Family stories

The rich history of X-Pichil has roots as deep as the trees that adorn its landscape. <br>

Artisan of the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura

Tales of ancestors

Amanda's grandmother, Josefa Pech Yam, tells how during the time of the Caste War, groups of families came to this region and found a large number of guava trees. 

Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura

Immovable witnesses

Enchanted by the fruit known as "pichi" and its meaning, they decided to establish themselves and give rise to the community; those trees became witnesses of generations.

Artisan of the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura

A collective history

Among the silhouettes of the majestic trees, the group of more than 20 artisans uses their needles and fabrics to recount the collective tradition and legacy of their community. 

Artisan of the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura

Generational leap

Embroidery is not only an art in X-Pichil, but rather a family bond that tells us the story of a group of people seeking a future for their traditions.

Artisan of the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura

New economy

The rich cosmology and history woven into each embroidery represent both the ancestral legacy and sustenance for many families. Thanks to the art of embroidery, these women have found economic independence.

Embroidery from the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura

Mixture of cultures

The embroideries transcend borders. With each trip of the collective to fairs or exhibitions, from Mexico to Saudi Arabia, a cultural exchange is woven that further enriches the artistic kaleidoscope of the artisans.

Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura

New dynamics

The increasing demand for Loo'l Pich art has presented considerable challenges in terms of the number of orders. This has further strengthened families as husbands and sons join the effort.

Artisan of the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura

Sewing machines.
00:00

Various techniques

In the Loo'l Pich workshop, the echo of old pedal machines is mixed with embroidering hands, thus uniting the past and present.

Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura

Various techniques

Embroidery has reinvigorated community togetherness and the rebirth of traditions that were disappearing, and has provided the artisans' families with a new form of livelihood rooted in their culture and a new horizon for their lifestyle.

Embroidery from the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura

Woven culture

Each embroidery is a flash of pride, a testament to the rich heritage and union of Mayan culture before the world.

Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura

Embroidered Bonds: An Art Rooted in the Family

Embroidering light, heritage, and union in each thread.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Explore more
Related theme
Crafted in Mexico
A journey through tradition, legacy, and knowledge of Mexican artisans
View theme
Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites