Tehuana Culture Part II - Frida's Influence

                  

While not a Tehuana herself, Frida Kahlo made the clothing and jewelry of the Tehana women famous outside of Mexico. Colorful, bold, ornate, their work is incredibly detailed and destictive to their culture. 

Unlike other indigenous communitites in Mexico, the women of Tehuantepec, known as Tehuanas, are considered the heads of their households. They manage the family funds, run the family businesses, and dictate how their children are raised. For this reason alone one can easily imagine why Frida was so drawn to their culture.

Tehuantepec is a central city for the Zapotec indigenous community which is located on the Isthmus of Mexico, in the state of Oaxaca. Today, the Tehuana women and the Tehuantepec community continue to depend largely on their hand made goods for their economic well-being. 

Mariza & Company is excited to be working directly with Lilia Hernandez, a Tehuana who learned her family art of emboidery and filigree jewelry at the age of 6. Today, she's the Mother of three and proud wife of a Tehuantepec husband. Our work with her is an endeavour to bring her culture and her art to a new market. Much like Frida, Mariza & Company strongly believes and stands behind the beautify the the Tehuana art and the stregth of the Tehuana women.