In the highlands of Santa Cruz, Tzintzuntzan, where the lake of Pátzcuaro mirrors centuries of Purépecha heritage, Berta Servín Barriga carries forward a tradition that speaks through thread.
A master of embroidery, Berta’s hands weave more than decorative stitches—they tell stories of her people, her land, and her lineage.
Born into a family of skilled hands and quiet strength, Berta learned the art of embroidery as a child. Like many women in Tzintzuntzan, she first picked up the needle while sitting beside her mother and aunts, who embroidered blouses, aprons, and table linens not only for household use but also as expressions of community identity and pride. In Santa Cruz, embroidery is not a hobby—it’s heritage. It is passed from mother to daughter as a language that has no need for words.
Berta soon developed her own voice through thread. Her specialty lies in the traditional Purépecha embroidery style, rich with floral motifs, stylized birds, and vibrant color combinations. She often incorporates natural dyes and cotton fabrics, staying close to the materials her ancestors used. Her pieces are celebrated not only for their technical finesse but for their storytelling: each stitch is placed with intention, echoing the flora, festivals, and rhythms of life around Lake Pátzcuaro.
Over the years, Berta’s work has been featured in regional fairs, cultural exhibitions, and embroidery competitions across Michoacán. Her creations—whether a delicately embroidered huanengo (blouse) or a full rebozo adorned with microstitch florals—are sought after by collectors and curators alike. She’s been recognized locally for her role in preserving Purépecha embroidery traditions, particularly at a time when industrial textiles threaten to overshadow handmade heritage.
What sets Berta apart is not only her craftsmanship but also her commitment to passing the tradition forward. She mentors young girls in Santa Cruz, offering informal workshops from her home and guiding them in both technical skills and the cultural meaning behind their designs.
To Berta, teaching is as vital as creating: “Cada puntada es un recuerdo. Si no lo enseñamos, lo perdemos,” she says. (“Each stitch is a memory. If we don’t teach it, we lose it.”)
Santa Cruz, a humble but proud community within Tzintzuntzan, is known for its artisans— potters, weavers, and embroiderers—who have long sustained Michoacán’s identity as a cradle of Mexican folk art. Berta Servín Baría stands among them as a quiet guardian of textile tradition, proving that the most powerful art can emerge from a modest home, a wooden hoop, and a handful of vibrant threads.

In a world moving quickly toward digital and disposable, Berta’s work reminds us to slow down, to value the handmade, and to listen to the wisdom passed down in stitches. She doesn’t just embroider garments—she embroiders culture, resilience, and memory.

Feria Maestros del Arte 2024, 2025

ARTIST INFORMATION:

Santa Cruz Municipio de Tzintzuntzan, Patzcuaro, Michoacán

cel 434-120-8195

bordadostacruzestherb@gmail.com

Facebook: Bertha Servin