This month, I am delighted to share an exciting opportunity to travel to Oaxaca from May 15 to 22 alongside filmmaker and professor Carolyn Kallenborn and Ana Paula Fuentes, Founding Director of the Textile Museum of Oaxaca.

It's an interactive journey through which you’ll explore the rich textile culture of Oaxaca, meet talented artisans, participate in hands-on activities, bond with like-minded travelers, and eat some of the best food in the world. This is a unique opportunity to be immersed in Oaxaca's culture, beauty, and craft.

I’ve known Ana for years and her depth of knowledge for artisans and the region second to none. I have no doubt this will be an unforgettable experience and a memorable way to explore this part of the world.

This week, I am delighted to spotlight an immersive cultural journey to Mexico this January, led by my friend and colleague Jessica Warner of Twofold Handcrafted Travel. Jessica is one of those old souls with a sincere passion for travel, culture, and distinctive textiles. She has beautifully blended her passions by curating in-depth, artisan-focused trips to Mexico, Japan, the American Southwest, and India. She has a few spots open for her upcoming trip to Oaxaca (which runs from January 16 - 25), so keep this unique opportunity in mind if this is a destination you have been wanting to explore. Just a couple of seats are still available! Whether you are looking for a unique cultural experience or are interested in connecting firsthand with artisans, this is a fabulous and memorable opportunity.
 

This week, I am delighted to feature an interview with Maggie Galton and Maria E Hagerman of Onoracasa, co-founders of one of the most beautiful artisanal brands I've come across in the market today based in Mexico City. I love how she gracefully blends exquisite craftsmanship, which speaks to culturally diverse craft techniques throughout Mexico, and elevates the artist's work by selling in their brick-and-mortar shop and online DTC site to a level that the craft and artists deserve through a keen eye and curation. Onoracasa has so much soul and beauty and strong relationships with its partners, and hope this can be a model for those in other countries to follow, as I feel their retail company has elevated the sector for those small, often unrecognized artists with exquisite museum quality products. Wholesale was a model they tried, which didn't work, and Maggie dives into that a little, where the trade and retail have been a focus for them. 

I know I already filled you in on the details of Caravana Americana, an amazing artisan show happening this October in Mexico City, but I wanted to write one more time to encourage you to consider attending if your travel schedule allows it. For those on the fence who would like to know more, I just sat down with Gina Barrios, the show’s co-founder, for a fun interview on what to expect.

We dive into her expectations for this year’s show, some of her fave exhibitors, as well as her tips for getting the most out of a visit to Mexico City. I hope you enjoy the conversation. I’ve also included below a short interview I recently did with Guillermo of Dos Tierras, one of the companies exhibiting products at this year’s show that I think really stand out.

This month, I'm delighted to share with you another interview with Maud Lerayer, of Behind of Hill. I have been following Maud's brand for quite some time and what caught my eye was her focus on working with one artisan enterprise in Guatemala, and going deep with storytelling, and a focus on sourcing the highest materials that she is able. There is a story of people, material, and of course, her line of products is beautiful. Maud was born and raised in France but a journey to Mexico in 2003 was life-changing. That was where the seed to start her business working with artists in Guatemala and Mexico was born. She now has a blossoming brand creating contemporary textiles using a variety of heirloom color grown cotton which grows wild, offering gorgeous shades of pink, terracotta, greens, and more. She works with artists who still grow, spin, and weave the cotton, the same way it has been done for centuries.

This week I am delighted to share some beautiful finds from my partner in Mexico (Fundación Haciendas del Mundo Maya), who has been working hard to create employment opportunities for master craftsmen and women impacted by the pandemic. In partnership with enterprises around Mexico and guidance from Igenris and the United Nations Development Program, they have created a non-profit to promote the production activity of artisans in Mexico who have been affected by the uncertainty caused by social distancing measures. The non-profit guarantees fair income to families and communities with a mission to help preserve the heritage and cultural identity of Mexico.