ZAPOTEC WEAVING

High in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico, is nestled a picturesque village where renowned Zapotec Indians have been artisan weavers for more than 2500 years. Today they continue to handcraft their rugs from start to finish –- gathering wool from their sheep, hand spinning the wool, dying the wool, and hand weaving some of the finest textiles in the world. The Zapotec weavers’ attention to quality and their level of skill make these hand-crafted rugs an investment that will last many lifetimes.

Many of the colors the Zapotec Indian weavers use for dying the wool are from local resources such as powdered cochineal bugs, tejute leaves, indigo bushes, murex snails and limes.

Today the Zapotec work brings together the historical and cultural art of ancient dyeing and weaving techniques with geometric designs from Mayan Ruins and the traditional star crystals from North American Indians. Because weaving is so tied to the family unit, the success of their weaving directly contributes to the maintenance of their distinct traditions and culture.