AOW INSIDER: Be Immersed in the Culture of Oaxaca with Twofold Handcrafted Travel
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, 2024), 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.
Contact Jessica here to reserve your spot, and read the full interview below!
For those new to Twofold Handcrafted Travel, could you tell us about these journeys, how you got started, and what makes these trips unique?
I became interested in Japanese textiles about 15 years ago, after I spent a year living in Tokyo with my family. We lived near the Japan Folk Crafts Museum, where I was inspired by beautiful antique katazome, shibori and bingata textiles. I also loved to explore the city looking for new designers. After returning to the US, I met a woman who asked if I’d take her and some friends to Japan. We did an intensive indigo- and shibori-dyeing workshop in the countryside outside of Tokyo and that’s how the tours began!
Later on, I expanded with excursions to India, Mexico and the Four Corners region of the US. What makes my tours unique is their niche focus on textiles and other handcrafts, allowing us to dig a little deeper into a destination. While visiting the homes and studios of artisans and designers, we have the opportunity to meet local people and learn about the cultural heritage of the place we’re visiting.
Tell us about the kind of traveler who would best enjoy your journeys.
My itineraries appeal to people who are either artists or designers themselves or, more generally, people who love to travel and are also interested in art, craft, and design. In the past, I’ve had interior designers, boutique retailers, and textile designers come on tours looking for inspiration and/or sourcing opportunities. While most of my clients are women, men are also welcome.
Can you give us a little glimpse of a typical day on one of your upcoming trips to Mexico?
Leaving Oaxaca City, we’ll start our day with an hour-long drive to Mitla, the ancient Zapotec archeological site characterized by its intricate mosaic fretwork. We’ll recognize the site’s striking geometric designs from our previous day in Teotitlán de Valle, where tapestry-weavers have long been inspired by its abstract motifs. Next, we’ll visit a local weaving workshop which specializes in natural dyeing and weaves with both back-strap and flying-shuttle looms. We’ll enjoy lunch at a mezcal distillery before visiting a household of multi-generational women potters who work with red clay sourced from near their village. The day will conclude with a visit to a creative design studio housed within an elegantly-restored ex-hacienda. On the way back to Oaxaca City we’ll take a glimpse inside the lovely Iglesia Tlacochahuaya with its unusual decorative floral interior.
That sounds amazing - what is a highlight you cannot wait to share with those who participate in a trip to Mexico?
Throughout Oaxaca, and other areas of Mexico, cultural identity is expressed through clothing. In the Mixteca region of western Oaxaca, for instance, we’ll have the rare opportunity to visit an indigenous Trique village where women weave and wear full-length red huipiles. A spectacular sight, this is one of the last villages in Oaxaca where almost all women still dress traditionally. We'll appreciate their beautiful hand-woven textiles and enjoy a home-cooked lunch of tamales and soup. In nearby villages, we’ll meet other indigenous women with their own distinctive textile and clothing traditions. My partner in Mexico has strong connections in these remote communities without which these visits would not be possible.
What sets Twofold Handcrafted Travel apart from other travel companies?
My tours have grown out of a genuine interest to explore heritage textile and craft traditions. I love to discover new designers who are sustaining and reinvigorating these traditions. Think of me as your friend who loves to plan trips and invite you along! My partners in each destination are important for making meaningful local connections. My upcoming Oaxaca tour, for instance, is a special opportunity to dive deep into the region with a truly wonderful and knowledgeable guide. Ana Paula Fuentes, a Mexico City native, was the founding director of the Museo Textil de Oaxaca and has worked in the area of "social design" in Mexico for over two decades.
I am committed to small-scale sustainable travel. Sustainable travel takes you to places most others don't go and keeps your money in the country you're visiting. This is done by employing local guides and drivers, patronizing locally-owned hotels and restaurants, as well as shopping directly from artisans and local retailers. Sustainable travel values leaving a small environmental footprint and prioritizing meaningful people-to-people experiences.
For those looking to connect with artisans, what percentage of your trips is focused on artisan visits?
Connecting with artisans and designers is the main focus of our itinerary and each day is built around studio and workshop visits. The itinerary also includes visits to museums, historical sites, markets, specialty shops, and amazing restaurants. While there are lots of opportunities to buy products directly from artisans, this is not just a “buying trip” but an immersive cultural experience.
And for those curious to visit Oaxaca, could you share a few of your favorite spots?
For textile lovers visiting Oaxaca, you must visit Los Baúles de Juana Cata, a shop founded by Remigio Mestas, which features beautiful, museum-quality indigenous textiles from throughout Oaxaca. If you’re an interior designer looking to source unique home textiles or custom-designed rugs, make an appointment to visit Madda Studio. Of course, you should visit the Textile Museum of Oaxaca, which also has a wonderful shop, and check out what’s on view next door at the San Pablo Cultural Center, one of Oaxaca’s many cultural gems!
Could you share with some of your current sources of inspiration? What are you reading or watching?
For a fascinating read during your trip, A Perfect Red by Amy Butler Greenfield tells the story of cochineal, which is still used throughout Oaxaca to dye brilliant reds. Also check out the PBS show Craft in America, which features Oaxacan crafts in its “Borders” episode. If I had plans to visit Madrid any time soon, I would head to the House of Mexico Foundation to see the exhibition “Feminine Design. Contemporary Mexico” which runs through February 18, 2024.
For more info, visit: https://twofoldtravel.com/
Email: hello@twofoldtextiles.com