Recently I've been taking some heavy visual inspiration from Mexican embroidery and more notably traditional embroidery from the Otomi people in the small town of Tenango in Hildago. You've probably seen this form of embroidery being used for bedspreads, table runners/cloths, upholstery and cushions.
The technique became prominent in the 1960s when the small farming community of Tenango went through a drought and the locals were forced to think of other ways to create revenue. Now it continues to be a defining craft of the Otomi people and many embroiderers are still working in this region.
Above the town of Tenango are cliffs with a series of caves. The walls of the caves bear drawings of birds, fish and animals, which are thought to have inspired the imagery that adorns these beautiful embroidered pieces.
The technique was also inspiration for Mara Hoffman's Spring Summer collection of 2012.
I've found some great information on this subject via OLLI - A San Francisco based craft company specialising in "handmade products that honour technique and tradition". Olli works closely alongside the Otomi people in the Tenango region to produce beautiful homewards that celebrate the craft of embroidery.
Otomi women in the community of Tenango, Hildalgo, Mexico.
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