Laca done in Chiapas is the only place where it is produced using 100% of the parasite Llaveia Axin. Axin more commonly known as Aje, a parasite that infects the roots of timbral and jocote trees. The aje is harvested in July when the female migrates from the roots to the branches to make its cocoon.

Families of Flores Magon , Chiapas collect and process the insects to be used in the production of laca. Another ingredient required to make laca is the local limestone. Washed and milled to a fine powder, it is mixed with pigments and then applied to the pieces being decorated.

The artists apply several layers of the aje and limestone. The number of layers depends on the desired finished, some pieces have up to 18 layers.

The piece is then painted using the fingers and brushes of various sizes. The finest brushes are made with sticks and hair collected from the tails of cats. Traditionally they are decorated with flowers.

Aidé Suárez Betsabe Coutiño is a young artist who studied under the tutelage of the deceased maestra, Marcela Rosario Camera Balbuena, of Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas. Aidé began her artistic training at age 10.Aidé will have just had a baby and will not be able to attend the Feria so  she will be represented at the Feria by her brother Segundo de Jesus Suárez Coutiño who also is a laca artist.

She has won eight awards in the last ten years and recently won First Place in the Concurso Estatal de la Artesanía Fray Bartolome 2013.

Aidé works from home and makes crosses, nichos, chests, trays, decorated gourds, furniture and even earrings.

There is also a small laca museumin the former convent of Santo Domingo in the center of town.

Av 21 de octubre # 324

Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas

Cel 961 187 9500