Zapotec Family making rugs for sale in Melaque, Jalisco, Mexico

The front of the store at Alvaro Obregon and Abel Salgado streets

At the corner of Alvaro Obregon and Abel Salgado, San
Patricio-Melaque, Jalisco, Mexico, you will find one of
the most interesting shops in the area. The shop is just
in front of St. Patrick's church.

Reynaldo Vazquez and his wife Teresa Gutierrez along
with their two children Jessica and Reynando, Jr. run
this wonderful shop.

Rugs, Wall hangings and Pottery

The rugs that you find in the shop are made in Oaxaca by the family and
brought to be sold here in the Melaque area in Decmeber until the family
returns home in March.

The "tapetes" are made of 100% lambs wool that the family cuts, combs,
spins, dyes and then weaves. The dyes are natural dyes that the family
prepares from local insects, plants and flowers. These tapetes are not
factory made. Although some may be similar, no two are identical since they
are each individually designed and made. The designs and processes have
been passed from generation to generation.

Reynaldo is the producer of the traditional Zapotec designs while Teresa is
the main weaver of the products. You will see that no one is exclusive to
any one part of the process

Here are some more pictures of the family and their store and products. Click on
the picture and it will open in a new browser window.

This is Teresa preparing the wool to be woven

This lady is Teresa's mother, she also work in this family business. Here you see that she is spinning the wool.

Teresa is weaving on of the intricate patterns used in the rugs

This is a bolsa (purse, carrying bag) produced by the family

Several rugs, different size, all beautiful

Two excellent examples of the work done by the family

Here is the family again with their products

Here the Zapotec family is showing off on of the products.

Here is Reymundo displaying of the the very nice pieces that the family produces

Teresa is showing off one of the beautiful wall hangings that the Zapotec family produces in Oaxaca

These pottery products are for sale but not produced by the family

Each of the medium sized rugs takes approximately
two weeks of work to produce. These are hand made,
hand produced works of art that would be appropriate
in any home. Buy one, take it home and love it.