Ethnic Mexican Pillows and Rugs- Native Trade Helps you Update Your Home For Summer

Two of my biggest life passions are my interior design business and my home decor product line, Native Trade.  In June I went to Oaxaca, Mexico for a product development trip.  I brought along my sister and one of my girlfriends from college who studied photography and fine art with me.  We had an amazing time and I fell in LOVE with the people, sights, smells, tastes, and culture of the city.

 Cole Barnett, Rachelle, and Cera in Teotitlan del Valle, Mexico.  June, 2012

 My big sister and me in front of the weaving workshop in Teotitlan del Valle. 

 With the Bazan Family of weavers.  Teotilan del Valle, Mexico.  June, 2012. 

With Kythzia Barrera (right).  Kythzia lives and works in Oaxaca City.  She is part of a group called Innovando la Tradicion which is a creative platform where artisans, designers and artists share skills, knowledge and stories to rethink and honor the ceramic traditions of Oaxaca.  Kythzia recently traveled to New York with some of the artists from Mexico and sold 62 products to the MOMA store for their collection, "Destination: Mexico".  You can check out their journey here.  

 Left to Right:  Kythzia, Cole Barnett, & Big Sis Rachelle at the Sunday market in Tlacolula.

 Cole Barnett with Kythzia at Yagul ruins in Mexico.

 Yagul. 

There are a few items for sale on my Etsy shop and I am currently designing a Spring/Summer 2013 line with the artisans in Teotitlan del Valle, which is a town known for its Zapotec weaving tradition that dates back two thousand years.

To see some of the items from this trip visit our new Etsy Shop.  In addition to the merchandise shown, we can custom order any size, color, or design.

 

Shop Online!

If you like the style of Anthropologie pillows and home goods, you will LOVE these embroidered pillows.  They are a blend of cottage chic, ethnic charm, cool kitsch, and vibrant pop of color all in one!

(Left) back view with hidden zipper.  (Right) Front view.

Back view of pillows with hidden zippers. 

Mix & Match different pillows from the collection. 

Front and back view.

Mexican Wool Pillows.  Hand woven and 100% wool. 

These bright striped seat cushion covers are a simple way to add some interest to your dining room.

Update your existing decor with some vibrant pops of color!

Wool Runner.  Hand woven.  Perfect for a long hallway.

Turquoise Mexican Wool Rug.  Hand Woven. 

Large Yellow Ethnic Rug.  9' x 12'.  Guaranteed to add sunshine to your life.  

We met so many amazing people on our adventures around the valley outside of Oaxaca City.  The first day was spent in the weaving village of Teotitlan del Valle.  We were greeted with an AMAZING chocolate drink made from a Zapotec recipe thousands of years old.  Having breakfast and chatting with this family in their home was one of the highlights of my trip.

 

 

 Kythzia making a scarf out of the undyed wool.

 

Natural Dyes- Indigo in dried past pellets harvested in the Isthmus region of Oaxaca, 150 miles south of Teotitlan. 

 

The natural red dye is called cochineal dye.  It comes from the crushed larvae of the cochineal insect.  (above)

Trying my hand at spinning yarn.  

With the Bazan family.  

Me at the loom.  I have an extremely deep respect for this very difficult art form.  

On day two we met up with Kythzia again and headed to San Marcos Tlapazola to meet the women potters.  The home we visited was a modest, yet fair sized compound in the Zapotec village, about an hour outside of Oaxaca.  Kythzia explained to us that the group of women who live at this compound are related and that none of them have married, out of fear that they would have to give up their craft.  There is one young girl who lives at the compound whom is the last link to this ancient art form for the family.  

  

The head of the family.  This women did not speak Spanish, only Zapotec.  A simple smile and a handshake was still a pleasure to share with her.  

Preparing for the pottery firing. 

Firing the red clay pottery.

Kythzia visiting with her friends. 

Simply beautiful. 

 My sister and me watching the pottery firing.

Heading to the next village. 

Another family visit was made in Santo Tomas Jalieza. 

Backstrap loom.  A simple loom which has its roots in ancient civilizations and is still being used by the Zapotec today.

Admiring the intricate embroidery.

Shooting some photos in Oaxaca at Santo Domingo.  I could look at this plaza everyday for the rest of my life and it would never get old.

 Picture perfect Oaxaca.

 

 Zocalo with my sister.

 At Yagul. 

 Monte Alban.

Kythzia shared her favorite spot with us; Yagul.  It is a ruins site open to the public but not many people know about it.  We were the only people there for about an hour until a group of Boy Scouts arrived.  :)

Kythzia, Rachelle, Cole.  This reminds me of the Beatles album cover!





To see more images from my trip view the Native Trade Blog

Shop online via Etsy

If you would like more info. about Native Trade or advice on travel to Oaxaca :)
email me at colebarnettdesign@gmail.com