There are so many things that I love about my job (as the Marketing Director for 2nd Story Goods, and as of February this year when we joined forces, Haiti Design Co as well!), and one of those things is that I have the ability to work remotely.
This allows me space to do my very favorite thing in the whole world while I’m working: travel! (You see, I’m a bit of a digital nomad, and I have been fortunate to be able to keep my living expenses in the US very minimal so I can have the flexibility to “live” in different places for a period of time.)
Recently, my life has led me to the beautiful region of Oaxaca, Mexico for a few months.
The list of reasons I have chosen to spend an extended period of time in Oaxaca is vast, from it being known as the foodie capital of Mexico, to it’s dedication to protecting its rich culture and traditions; but at the very top of my list is getting to connect with and admire the work of highly-skilled indigenous artisans.
Walking around the streets of the city, exploring the smaller communities surrounding it, and even spending time on the coast and in the mountains of the region is inspiring and teaching me in profound ways, and I want to share a bit of that inspiration with you!
One of the highlights of my time so far was getting the opportunity to do a Saturday tour with an indigenous-woman owned sustainable tourism company called Zapotec Travel. (If you ever find yourself in Oaxaca, I highly recommend booking a tour with them! Their unique approach ensures that their tours are as ethical and sustainable as possible, providing maximum respect, care, and benefits to the communities and artisans that they visit!)
During the tour, we got spend the day with a family textile business in Teotitlán del Valle, a small comminity outside the city.
The family showed us around their organic farm, where they grow the plants they use for their natural dyes. They use 100% natural dyes for all of the artisan goods they create! We saw the indigo plant they use for blue, the bug that lives on the cacti that they use for pink, and countless others they use for the wide array of bright colors.
They explained how they are reintroducing many indigenous plants to their area that had previously been nearly extinct, and some of them are so rare they don’t even have scientific names!
Then, they showed us the long process they use to dye the wool that they weave into goods they create like bags, pillow cases, rugs, and more. The process includes many different elements such as a mortar and pestle, boiling water, and lots of patience.
We even got to tie dye our own t-shirts as part of the experience!
Would you believe me if I said there was even more after this? We got to learn how to make Mole Negro from scratch. The rich traditional dish has over 20 ingredients and, like the textile making, also involves a mortar and pestle, boiling water, lots of patience, and countless other steps!
We sat down to have one of the most delicious meals of my life, complete with hibiscus agua fresca to drink, and talked about the many dynamics of tourism, indigenous communities, culture, and history in the area. Then we got to explore the town center and see a whole array of textile goods made by so many other talented artisans.
I felt so deeply honored getting to have this experience, learning about the beautiful traditions that are being preserved in this community.
Words and photos simply can’t do it justice. But alas, I am trying.
I hope to share more from my travels in the days to come. Andwe have an exciting surprise in store soon!
All the love,
Olivia
