The women of Xochitlan, Mexico & Our Co-op

The women of Xochitlan, Mexico have been hand beading, embroidering & embellishing both skirts & blouses in the Poblana tradition since the 1800's. The intricacies of their handwork continues today in many gorgeous garment designs, as well as other useful home & fashion items. It is to be noted that the sale of just one blouse directly enriches the lives of each of these women, their extended families & the community at large.

In 2009 I drove through numerous nahuatl mountain villages of Mexico with production patterns in hand for a beaded peasant-style blouse.  With much coming & going & sharing of ideas over the last few years, Huitziki Co-op (flower of the coffee plant} has boldly taken shape.  Today a select & dedicated group of women & most recently two men, create quality & uniquely-crafted garments.  We appeal to a clientele who appreciate our attention to excellence, detail & style.
   
We hold firmly a common goal; that of developing a consistent & fair income for all involved using design & craft as a tool for revenue generation & social progress amongst our members.  We are a Fair Trade co-operative.


Huitziki Co-op is located in the indigenous & isolated traditional mountain village of Xochitlan, Mexico where rampant alcoholism  & lack of job opportunity amongst the male members of the area often leave the women as primary income earners.  Their lives are labor intensive, filled with an endless array of daily chores.  Domesticity begins at an early age, often with babies born to girls who are but children themselves.  It is unfortunately all too common for young fathers to deny responsibility for the care of their offspring.  Extended families live together, pooling their energy & resources in order to thrive.

Xothitlan is a walking culture, vehicles being a luxury few can afford.  An early morning market occurs a few days weekly with much bartering of fresh produce, in particular.  Sunday has a more colorful, extensive market.  Most children attend the village schools until ages 12 to 18.  The cost & distance traveled to advance education facilities makes attendance difficult.  More often than not young people are needed at home to attend to chores that keep the family functioning smoothly.  The men work in the fields & at local trades that support the community at large.

Catholicism plays an important role in the villagers' lives.  Religious holidays & boisterous fiestas provide occasional respite.  Women gain relaxation, companionship & much-needed moments of stillness through their  craft.  They are highly-motivated & take pride in their handwork, giving it as much attention as time allows.  Members self-critique one another's' work, striving to maintain excellence & new members must meet  rigorous standards.  We have tremendous potential for increased production ahead involving more  of the community.

Each garment completed provides multiple gains.  Perhaps another month of public school fees, window panes to finally fill that unprotected gap or constant repairs to leaky roofs during rainy season.  As well, there are the many daily needs for healthcare, eyeglasses, bus fare, clothing, food & an occasional luxury to be enjoyed.  The demands are often immediate & always endless.  Within Huitziki Co-op a lively sense of pride, laughter & comaraderie flourishes as together we work, learn & contribute meaningfully to each others' lives.

For more information on the Co-Op: [Click on the link below]
Huitziki Cooperative