Tenejapa municipality is a Tzeltal community in the Chiapas highlands and borders the municipalities of Chenalhó, Cancuc, Oxchuc, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Huixtán and San Juan Chamula. People farm the vertical land as there is almost no other opportunity for making a living in the area outside of farming corn, beans, coffee and tropical fruit trees.

Juan Gómez lives and works with his sister, Sebastiana, and their niece, Rosa. The three of them are dedicated to weaving three days a week and by Juan´s own admission, they need to clear their heads the rest of the week by working in their fields. Juan´s first love is for the land, but he learned how to weave as a boy from his mother and he has remained fascinated by it. The three of them are accomplished weavers and Juan and Sebastiana have been recognized numerous times for their work. Their ceremonial costumes, runners and bags are sought after by collectors as very few are produced.

They dye the wool with plants, mosses, cochineal and some indigo. Rosa is the expert at the dying process, which she loves to do — she is very good at remembering proportions and the dye recipes they use.

Sebastiana is well known her splendid ceremonial huipiles and Juan for his traditional men´s belts and costumes.

They do not participate in shows as they produce very little but finally agreed to come to the Feria and they have started working early on some smaller items to present at the show. A ceremonial huipil can take up to a year to make and is a true piece of wearable art

The latest prizes won are 1st place Ceremonial Costume in the XXXIV Concurso Estatal de Artesanias Fray Bartolomé de las Casas 2018. Also, 3rd Place Ceremonial Costume in the XXXIV Concurso Estatal de Artesanias Fray Bartolomé de las Casas 2018.

Calle SN

Chacomal, Tenejapa, Chiapas

967 102 7133 WhatsApp 

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