Summer dining with Mariza & Company

Add charm to your next patio dinner with Mariza & Company linens. 

 Maya I & Maya II Table Runners from Chiapas

Large Otomi Tenango (blue) with white Tenango table runner from Hidalgo

Tierra Table Runner from Chiapas

Mar Table Runner from Chiapas

Day 4, 5 & 6 - Mexico City

Mexico City (i.e. DF) is where this whole project began and it's at the heart of our collection.

From crowded market streets adorned with pink tarps to the quiet neighborhoods where Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera lived, this city is a constant source of inspriation. At every turn, it's apparent that Mexico City embraces both its deep rooted tradition and its love for contemporary art and architecture. In a sense, this city is an inspriation for us as we build our collection and add new artists to our team.

When we first launched 3 years ago we started working with two jewelers, Maria Jose and Laila. This past week, we met with them both and spent hours looking at their new collections, talking about their work and learning about their market. Both have brought new inspiration to their work and we're excited to be bringing it to M&Co soon.

Maria Jose's work is a contemporary take on traditional mayan jewelry. Combining silver with twice fired ceramic beads, her work is unique and constantly evolving.

And Laila, has continued to follow is her father's foot steps. She's developed a beautiful collection of "milagro" inspired earrings and has a few art nuveou pieces that we can't wait to receive. 

Oaxaca - Day 3

Textiles & Earrings

We spent the day browsing textiles and silver. We met with more filigree artists (photos below), and worked to build a collection of Rebosos (shawls) that range from bright colors and summer covers to rich natural dyes and collectors items. Our soon to be debuted Reboso collection comes from the Vasquez family in Maria Tlahuitoltepec Mixe, Oaxaca.

Oaxaca - Casa Azul, Hotel Boutique

Before we share the finds of the day, I need to mention our hotel, because it was beyond fabulous and filled with art and inspiration. Casa Azul -Oaxaca, is a small boutique hotel that was designed be 4 major artists, including Toledo & Palacio. All of whom are from Mexico. Each collaborated in the minimalistic style of the hotel and they utilized local art and artists to create their concept. The staff and General Manager, Federica, were beyond helpful and quickly became friends. From helping us find artist to recommending restaurants, they made our trip an experience and we can't wait to return.

Oaxaca - Day 2

Oaxaca is made up of hundreds of little villages that each specialize in a single craft. In a way, the city acts like a gallery and the surrounding towns are the artists studios. So, today we traveled from small pueblo to small pueblo visiting artisans, learning about their craft and watching them work. 

First stop was an eventful one. We met with Soledad & Francisco Gutierrez, filigree artists from San Juan Chapultepec. Francisco learned his craft as a young boy and as he grew up, he grew his art into a family business. Francisco is consdered a master artisan, recognized nationally as one of the finest filigree/silver jewelers in Mexico. Below are photos of Francisco and his workshop. Most the tools he made himself and with the exception of a few saws, his studio is in itself a work of art. 

Oaxaca - Day 1

Oaxaca is synonymous with artisania. The state, as a whole, accounts for over 4 million artisans and the city draws artisans from every corner to display their work in an array of venues, from high-end galleries, to cooperative owned stores and street vendors.

Today, a lot of our work has been identifying what items and what artists fit well with Mariza & Company's vision. For us, it's essential to develop an ongoing partnership with the artists to enable economic stability and preservation of the artistic form. This, lead us to two major findings.

First, we met with Juan Manuel Garcia, a jeweler, designer and master raddish sculptor (yes, I'm refering to the vegetable). Mr. Garcia has lived an very successful artistic life. He's well known for creating huge paper mache sculptures for local festivals, he was the winner 18 years running of the Noche de Rabana competition, an event where artists create sculptures out of raddishes and display them for the city to view, and most noteably, he's a world famous filigree artist, creating jewelry and sculptures that have been on display around the world. For us, his jewelry is a dream. His work is meticulous and his craft has been a symbol of Oaxaca and Oaxacan culture for generations.

After meeting with Mr. Garcia, we strolled to the "20 de noviembre" market where we enjoyed lunch and spied our first baskets of chapulines (chile fried grasshoppers) available for purchase. Around the corner from the market we met with a group of weavers who have developed a contemporary take on the traditional "palapa" weavings. Using their weaving techniques, this group has used plastic ribbon to develop a new bag style. A style, we think you are going to love. 

                             

Tomorrow, we're venturing outside the city to meet more artists. 

Hasta mañana!