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Hecho

@hecho_shop

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Handmade with traditional processes + natural materials. Product development, wholesale, private tours, sourcing + travel consulting.
Oaxaca, Mexico

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An ode to long-standing relationships. We’ve been collaborating with Mexican artisans for over 11 years now. While these efforts began in our full-time home of Oaxaca, over the years, they’ve expanded to another ten states in Mexico. The pieces that we help to develop are rooted in ancestral processes and natural materials like clay, stone, cotton, wool, wood, agave and more. There’s already too much plastic choking the planet and we don’t want to encourage more of that.Our services cover custom product development, in-person and remote sourcing, the organization and hosting of individual and group cultural trips, hands-on artisan workshops, as well as online content development for clients. We believe in the long-term and with this, we work with the same artisans as we always have, on an ongoing basis. One of these is an accomplished artist named Ana, who like her mother and siblings is incredibly adept in her pottery practice, which celebrates her indigenous Zapotec heritage. She works with local clay, mineral glaze, a handmade pit fire kiln that’s reminiscent of those unearthed in Monte Alban, as well as figures and forms that represent the stories of her ancestors. Her workshop also has one of the best views in Oaxaca, as you can see here.While we started in wholesale and still offer this as an option, our client base has diversified over the last few years. That said, we’re grateful for the fact that we’re still doing business with some of our very first retail clients from over a decade ago. Oaxaca is our present and our future. Our extended family was born and raised in this incomparable Mexican state and our focus is, and will always be, on supporting our local communities. We live in an indigenous pueblo just outside of the capital city and our goal is to be surrounded by the local mountains for the foreseeable future. Thank you to everyone who’s supported us and our three small, local businesses over the years. In our view, there’s no life without community and we’re deeply grateful for ours....#pottery #sourcingagents #smallbusinesslove #oaxaca #tourguide by @hecho_shop

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a day ago

Traditional metal work in Mexico dates from Mesoamerican times, with precious metals such as gold, silver and copper used for jewelry and votive offerings. During the colonial period, the use of the aforementioned materials was also in play, however tin and wrought iron also grew in popularity for the production of household objects, furniture, tools and decorative pieces. Initially, metal work was heavily restricted by the Spanish, as this work didn’t contribute to royal taxes, but it was also to protect the Spanish metal guilds and ensure that the indigenous people didn’t make weapons. The mining and working of iron was introduced by the Spanish who created tools and horseshoes, then later, decorative elements for churches and mansions. With this, you’ll find an array of hinges, latches and other handmade iron pieces on historic buildings, as well as in local vintage markets and shops. These pieces are also produced for modern use in contemporary builds, when one wants a colonial style of finish in interiors.Some of these handmade handles and pulls are attached with screws, while others have two long iron rods on the back. These are pulled through a drilled hole in the wooden piece, then curled with pliers and cut on both ends, in order to keep them secure. A local maker told us that this application method is used to prevent people from stealing the pieces off of front doors and other areas. ...#ironwork #colonial #madeinmexico #spanishmodern #handmade by @hecho_shop

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a month ago

While there’s a little more diversity than before, Mexico is primarily Christian, with Catholicism representing the largest denomination at over 77%. Spanish colonizers introduced this belief system, and with this, the production of ex-votos. These are also known as retablos or laminas, and were incorporated into daily life, starting in the 16th Century. Votive paintings began as static images of saints and religious figures which were donated to a church, however they later evolved into narrative images to tell the story of a miracle or favour received. These were originally commissioned by the wealthy and produced on canvas, but as tin prices became more accessible, they were created by the working class. There was a proliferation of these offerings made in the 18th and 19th Centuries, with many eventually being transported from public places of offering to private collections. These pieces are typically small in size, made from tin and feature the likeness of the petitioner, the saint or religious figure, and the miracle that was received. Many are rather grim, with the believer surviving addiction, sickness, injury and other disasters. Unlike static images of saints, these votive paintings are considered to be intense and personal public expressions of faith, which were often signed and even painted by the petitioner themselves. Some were also produced by artists for hire, particularly in the past when literacy wasn’t common. At the end of the 19th Century, votive paintings fell out of favour, with the arrival of more economical chromolithographs from Europe. This particular collection of ex-votos that’s featured here is from a recent visit to the state of Puebla, where you’ll find these handmade works in local museums and antiques shops....#exvoto #catholocism #mexicanhistory #retablo #puebla by @hecho_shop

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a month ago

Meet the team! They say that it takes a village and our small business is no exception.While we cover the marketing, client communication, social media, sourcing, packing, shipping and so on, the true heart and soul of our project are the artisans that we collaborate with. It’s their ancestral knowledge, incomparable skill and creative vision that’s the beating heart of our small business. Without them, we’d be nothing. While we don’t have childhood photos to post of these admirable individuals, we’ll forever be grateful in having the privilege of being invited into their homes, workshops and in some cases, into their families. Con todo nuestro repeto, siempre....#meettheteam #babyphoto #babytrend #thisiswho babypictures by @hecho_shop

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With a new house build already in the works, we’re keeping our eyes and ears open for vintage pieces to add a particular charm to our future space that mass produced items cannot replicate. From pottery to lighting and etched glassware, there’s a profusion of historic treasures to be discovered in Mexico, with a little time and patience. The goal of this mindful curation is honour these ancient makers and techniques, leverage personality over perfection and repurpose existing works, rather than producing more. As with our contemporary artisan made collections, our focus isn’t on trends, but a timeless elegance that seamlessly transcends the decades.Sourcing is always preferable in good company, so our goal is to expand these efforts in order to create a new category in our offerings. Again, this focus doesn’t revolve around validation or status, but on the simple ethos that what you love is worth loving. Sometimes, it breaks our hearts to leave behind certain vintage treasures, causing our mind to later wander back to them, like the one that got away. These pieces have lived lifetimes and have bore witness to the joys, heartaches and simple moments of those who loved them before us. What we’d like to know from you, dear community, is what types of historical pieces you might be interested in seeing in our collections and social feeds. Are you a lover of the historical, as well? What types of works are you drawn to and resonate with your own modern aesthetic?...#antiquefinds #antiqueshopping #vintagelove #sourcingagent #mexicomagico by @hecho_shop

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As with all things in life, when collaborating with artisans, there’s some makers that you develop a deeper relationship with who become friends and in some cases, even family. We first met Alicia and Mario of @artesanias_buenavista_ at the Sunday market in Tlacolula, then later in a more intimate form when we helped to facilitate the production process of custom textiles for a NYC-based designer. Their home workshop is located in the central valleys of Oaxaca, alongside a sunny courtyard and outdoor kitchen space where their grandchildren and chickens frolick in the midst. The clack clack of their traditional standing pedal looms offers a rhythmic backdrop to the symphony of life that surrounds them.Given the current market and world events, sales have been slow for many artisans, shops and small businesses. Life is so expensive these days that people are holding close what extra income they have, which we understand. That said, this lack of sales means a reduced income for many families, which is a struggle. Alicia, for example, is plagued with ongoing knee pain and requires surgery, plus there’s the daily expenses of running a household. This talented duo are natural dye masters, skilled wool textile weavers and wonderful humans. We can attest that they’re reliable with custom orders, as well as being honest and good communicators. We’ll be sharing images in our stories of their handmade works that are currently available on an ongoing basis. If you have a custom project you’d like realized, we’re happy to connect you. In buying from artisans, your hard earned funds are supporting local communities, not multinationals run by billionaires. This helps ancestral traditions to continue and these families to sleep better at night, knowing that their needs are covered. Be sure to give this family a follow to see what they have coming. ...#textiles #oaxaca #rugweaving #handmade #supportlocal by @hecho_shop

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a month ago

Some days are more challenging than others, but on this Wednesday, all we want to do is share a photo of these sherbet coloured roses in handmade Mixe pottery, which were cut from our garden.We hope that you’re well in your world, wherever you are. Abrazos desde Oaxaca. ...#roselover #oaxaca #inmygardentoday #freshflowers #thinkingofyou by @hecho_shop

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Colonial ideology is based on the belief in the superiority of the colonizers, their mandate to rule and a warped view of a civilizing mission to cultivate land and life, which is often deeply rooted in gender and racial hierarchies. It’s typically a part of an imperialist project that subjugates and diminishes indigenous people, which intentionally creates division and inequality. This ideology is also present in an ongoing pattern where POC in economically under-developed nations are denied agency and are seen as passive recipients of white benevolence. How’s that going for our world? Have a look around you. Over the last eleven years, the bulk of our collaborations have been with indigenous Mexican artisans. In our interactions, what is abundantly clear is that local indigenous people, particularly in our diverse Southern Mexican state, practice ancestral wisdom that helps to keep them connected to their natural environment, their culture and their overriding focus in life.Sadly, money is always a driving factor in our late-stage capitalist world, however we don’t find the same glorification of wealth in Oaxaca, as there is in other ‘developed’ nations. People work long hours, but it’s not the performative grind culture that we see in other societies. Family comes first, as does community service and care for the land. All of that to say, we have much to learn from the indigenous communities of the world – not the other way around. We don’t care how many followers you have, if you’d been on television, lauded in magazines or how impressive your financial portfolio is. Show us something real, something meaningful. Our reverence is reserved for the protectors of nature, champions of the voiceless, lovers of animals, and those who have overcome unimaginable adversity with grace and creative vision, like the globally esteemed Maestro Jose Garcia – a forever source of inspiration and a true poet in the darkness....#indigenous #oaxacamexico #colonialism #colonialism #influencer by @hecho_shop

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2 months ago

Mexico has a history of clay building that spans over 3,000 years. It evolved from pre-Hispanic earth construction to fired bricks and glazed tiles. While cement is a common choice in modern builds, traditional materials like adobe, wattle-and-daub and clay tiles endure as popular options. The ancient Aztec and Teotihuacan people shaped mud, clay and plant fibers into bricks to form enormous complexes, while sophisticated cultures like the Maya in Comalcalco produced kiln-fired clay bricks and water pipes as early as 1,500 years ago. With the arrival of Spanish colonizers, fired bricks became common, as did glazed tiles. Additionally, curved, clay roof tiles, which are locally known as tejas, replaced thatched palapas. In the early 20th century, cement and concrete temporarily overshadowed artisanal clay brick making, however there’s been a bioconstruction revival, where ancestral processes co-exist with modern sustainability methods. Earthen walls and roofs, along with finishes like chukum and lime plaster help to keep homes cool in the heat, plus they’re breathable, help to resist mold and are also fire-resistant. Our respect goes out to those who continue to make individual bricks by hand, paint with lime and waterproof build surfaces with juice from the prickly pear cactus. When employing these methods, one is able to help to keep the earth and the air cleaner, while also supporting the continuance of traditional processes....#traditionalbuilding #adobebricks #brickbybrick #sustainabledesign #sustainablehome by @hecho_shop

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2 months ago

Pericón, also known as tagetes lucida, sweet mace, yerbaniz and Texas tarragon is a perennial plant that’s native to Mexico and Central America. It was used as a ritual incense and for culinary purposes by the Aztecs, and is currently employed as an entheogen by the indigenous Huichol people. As a spicy, anise-flavoured hot tea, it treats colds and gastrointestinal afflictions, inhibits the growth of e-coli, plus the dried plant can be burnt to repel insects. Perhaps most notably in our region of Oaxaca, it’s incorporated into textile production as a natural dye that produces a staggering range of golden hues. In our region of Mexico, this multipurpose wonder of a plant is cultivated by hand in the surrounding hills of the central valleys, where it grows wild in Oaxaca. The peak season is after the rains, when the air begins to cool, around late October. Most artisans pick as much as possible during this season, leaving the roots for future growth, then store the plants after they’ve dried so that they have access to this dye material for future dates. When admiring the ever-changing colours of our seasonsin our area, it’s common that what’s pleasing to the eye, in the way of aesthetics, also has a long cultural history. Oaxaca is rich in culture, respect for the natural environment and indigenous wisdom. Thankfully, this knowledge has been passed down through the generations, so that these traditions continue....#naturaldyes #plantmedicine #mexicanculture #indigenous #oaxaca by @hecho_shop

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2 months ago

Growing up in small town Canada, my parents enrolled me in French immersion, partly in case I ever wanted to work in government, where fluency in both official languages is required. Upon moving to Oaxaca, I didn’t speak Spanish, however I felt that my bilingual roots would help to encourage the process. How naïve I was. Learning a language as a little girl proved to be infinitely more fluid than as a middle aged woman. It was over two years before I made a joke that someone laughed at and another year to genuinely feel that I was able to express myself in a way that invited meaningful connection. Sometimes, I hear feedback from people that they’re surprised about the lack of English spoken in Oaxaca, given the ongoing focus on tourism. The irony is that this observation generally comes from monolingual visitors – at least from my experience.Oaxaca is recognized as the state with the most linguistic diversity in the country, with 16 ethnic groups populating the eight regions, all with their own dialects. Over 31% of locals speak an indigenous language, often in conjunction with Spanish, the language of the colonizer. English is nowhere in the mix, nor is it a part of daily life in the pueblos. Some years ago, I was in a local café in the city where the young man at the counter was being berated by a tourist. “What’s she saying?” he asked me. “She said that you should speak English if you’re working in hospitality,” I said. “Remind her that she’s in Mexico,” he replied. And I did. Oaxaca doesn’t owe anything to anyone. It’s gracious of locals to be sharing their exquisite home with us, despite the ongoing water shortages and ecological stress that tourism inevitably brings. Expecting locals to learn a foreign language to make tourists feel comfortable in their home is continuing the narrative of the colonizer – an approach that continues to cause damage on a global scale, including war, ecocide and human rights abuses. Let’s do better. ...#respectthelocals #oaxacamexico #indigenous #tourism #colonizers by @hecho_shop

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3 months ago

It seems that it’s time to reintroduce ourselves once more, so that people understand our focus here in our full-time home of Oaxaca, Mexico. We’re Ehren and Erick – Canadian transplant and born and raised Oaxacan. Erick has spent his entire life in Oaxaca and Ehren has lived here full-time for over 11 years. Between us, we own and run three small businesses @cervezaammon @erikuas_club and @hecho_shop - with the focus being on building, connecting with and supporting our local communities. We’re both from working class backgrounds and have paved our own way in life, even as children, to some extent. Our home is a pueblo close to the capital city, which is governed under indigenous usos y costumbres law. We’re currently working long hours in this era of life, but our hope is that in future, we’ll be able to offer our time and experience in order to mentor young people in our community.Ehren has a degree in art and design, and worked in both graphic design and international development in NYC and Vancouver. She’s lived in four countries, but feels the most connection to her chosen home of Oaxaca. That said, she’s aware that she’ll always be an immigrant and a foreigner here in Mexico. She collaborates with makers in 11 Mexican states, organizes custom orders for clients, offers cultural experiences, sourcing trips and artisan workshops in conjunction with her community, plus also works as a freelance writer.While his family has a background in coffee, Erick has a degree in electrical engineering. He paid his way through university as a swimming instructor, and opened his bouldering gym over 20 years ago. He continues to coach young climbers – many of whom have moved on to state and national championships. Erick also collaborates on local ecotourism projects and offers private climbing tours. In addition to this, he’s the brew master at his small craft brewery, which specializes in, but is not limited to, variations of IPAs. Are you curious about any aspects of how we live and work here in Oaxaca? Feel free to ask us and we’d be happy to share. ...#smallbusinessowner #oaxacamexico #communitysupport #handmade #familybusiness by @hecho_shop

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4 months ago