With the aim of providing more and better opportunities to micro or small producers in the region, as instructed by Governor Mauricio Vila Dosal since the beginning of his administration, a new edition of the Artisan Bazaar took place from July 13th to 16th at Santa Ana Park in Mérida.
In this edition, 60 creators from different municipalities participated, including Valladolid, Izamal, Halachó, and Mérida. The bazaar showcased various artisanal branches such as henequen, honey, textiles, footwear, hammocks, and wood carving, among others.
The promotion of the sector is carried out through Herencia Viva, a project for the development, promotion, linkage, and commercialization of Yucatecan products, both in Mexico and worldwide. This project is the result of teamwork between civil society, represented by business organizations, academia, including higher education institutions, and government agencies at all levels.
This platform was established by the Governor’s instruction on January 1st, 2022, with the goal of providing more and better opportunities to artisans and micro or small producers in the region.
Currently, Herencia Viva operates the physical stores that were previously managed by the Casa de las Artesanías. These stores have been renovated with a new image. The first one to be revamped was the store located at the Mérida International Airport, followed by the one at the Uxmal Tourist Parador, and finally, the main store in the Historic Center of the capital.
Moreover, the offerings of this sector are also available online through the herenciaviva.com website, the official store of Hecho en Yucatán on Mercado Libre, and soon on Amazon, within its specialized section for artisanal or local goods called Handmade.
Herencia Viva also represents the region in national and international events, thanks to the coordinated efforts of the State Government, through the IYEM (Yucatán Institute of Handicrafts), and the Tourism Promotion (Sefotur) and Economic Development (Sefoet) Secretariats, in collaboration with the private sector, under the leadership of the local delegation of the National Chamber of the Transformation Industry (Canacintra).
The Work of the Craftswomen
During the event, we encountered several brands that caught our attention with their work philosophy and their love for culture, craftsmanship, and the power of communities.
One of these brands is “Zavy“, which focuses on transforming the lives of women artisans in Yucatán communities by generating dignified employment opportunities that contribute to their well-being and personal development. They work in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals and specialize in crafting artisanal straps for cameras, guitars, pet collars, and other products using the Xoc Bi Chuy technique (cross-stitch), creating a value chain with a positive impact. You can find their products at: https://zavy.mx
We also had a conversation with the artisans from “Casa XA’AN“, who create beautiful products made of guano palm and manta fabric. Their range includes baskets, laundry baskets, sewing kits, hats, bags, fans, home decorations, and more. They shared insights about their work, which involves palm weaving done in caves, as the humidity in the environment provides the flexibility needed for this material. You can find them at: https://www.facebook.com/artesaniasxaanoficial/
Last but not least, we discovered a brand of artisans dedicated to clothing production, “Vekasi.” Their collection includes huipiles, dresses, blouses, shawls, and more. Their garments are characterized by the traditional cross-stitch embroidery technique, which derives its name from the way the stitches form crosses. Their collections often feature figures of Yucatecan flora and fauna, but they also offer modern designs inspired by children’s movies. You can explore their designs at: https://www.facebook.com/tradicionconEstilo
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