Zoom in
Zoom in
Zoom in

A wealth of materials and a variety of shapes Mexico D.F. is a paradise to shop around not only in its huge malls, but also in its outlets selling local handicraft like the Mercado de la Merced (Market of Mercy), featuring great food joints, or the bustling La Lagunilla, where visitors can buy antiques and countless objects and knickknacks. Blown-glass items in the Carretones neighborhood, homemade bookbinding in carved leather and gold-plated ribbons, or rough-hewn pieces of furniture speak volumes of the local artisans' skills in those local markets.

Copper, wood and other materials In Barranca del Cobre in northern Mexico, there are typical “girdles” of delicate designs and original colors that local residents weave in makeshift looms and wear around the forehead or just to tie up their raramuri or traditional garments. Since the 16th century, Taxco's silversmiths have learned how to get the best of silver, one of the region's most valuable treasures. The abundance of this precious material coupled with both the traditions and skills of local artisans combine to churn our the most beautiful pieces and decorations. Shapes and colors are specially wrought in Guanajuato. Ceramics match with the region's minerals in a range of imported techniques, fine drawings and Mudejar-style inspiration with symbols of their history and their land.

Music and craftsmanship The character of residents in Veracruz is both open and jaunty, something that's clearly seen in their traditional celebrations and dancing in which they wear garments and robes brimming with colorfulness and beauty. Clothing in Minatitlan is particularly gorgeous: cotton skirts with pleats and Valencia-style laces, black-velvet shawls embroidered with motley roses. Craftsmanship in Michoacan is an endless river of inspiration, the result of a blend of Spanish and Indian cultures. The variety of shapes, the technical expertise and the careful esthetics are showcased in masks, vases, decorations and popular toys made in Cocucho, Capula, San Jose de Gracia or La Cañada de los Once Pueblos.

The source of Mexican handicrafts is never-ending. The richness of materials, the exoticism and the multitude of forms and shapes have turned this walk of life into an ingrained popular tradition in a culture and a people hard to forget.