In Conversation with Rosa, Diego and Rodrigo
Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca
Every rug begins with people.
During a recent visit to the workshop in Teotitlán del Valle, I asked Rosa, Diego and Rodrigo about their family, their craft and the traditions they continue today. Their answers offer a glimpse into the generations of knowledge, patience and care behind every rug they weave.
Family
Can you tell us a little about your family and how weaving became part of your lives?
Everything began with our grandparents, on both our father's and mother's side. They raised sheep and grew corn. That is where our craft comes from. When the sheep were sheared, the wool was, and still is, used to make our natural dyed rugs. It is a long process.
What are your earliest memories of learning to weave?
My brother and I began learning to weave underneath chairs. We made little coasters. For us it was a way of learning to weave, and we found it very interesting.
Did you always imagine you would continue this work, or did you learn to appreciate it over time?
Our dream has always been to share our craft with the world. Thanks to Nichola, more people are getting to know our work. We also value the time it takes to make each piece, because every rug involves a long process.
About Their Work
Each of you has a different role in the workshop. How do you work together throughout the process?
We all work together making our crafts.
How does a rug travel from the wool to the finished piece?
It is a long process, beginning with the wool and continuing through each stage of making the rug by hand.
Which part of the process do you enjoy the most, and why?
We enjoy the entire process. Making our textiles is what we spend our time doing every day.
Natural dyes are such an important part of your work. Is there a colour, plant or pigment you especially enjoy using?
All of the natural dyes are important because they allow us to create many different colours.
About Tradition
Your family has preserved this knowledge for generations. What do you think is most important to pass on to future generations?
We hope they continue making our crafts. We want them to see how important and valuable each piece is, and to understand how much time it takes to make them.
What would you like people to understand about the time, care and knowledge behind a handmade rug?
We would like people to understand that every rug takes time to make and that each piece is valuable because of the work and knowledge behind it.
About Life
Is there a tradition, celebration or time of year in Teotitlán del Valle that is especially important to you?
We have many celebrations in our village. The most important is on the first Wednesday of July, when we celebrate the Precious Blood. It is the most important festival in our community.
What is your favourite moment of the day in the workshop?
Every day is our favourite.
Is there a colour you always return to or that especially inspires you?
The red from cochineal.
If someone visited your workshop for the first time, what would you like them to feel or remember?
We would like them to feel welcome, to understand the process, and to see everything that goes into making each rug.
Looking to the Future
What gives you the most curiosity, or what inspires you at the moment?
Creating replicas or weaving the designs that each client brings to us.
What dreams do you have for the future of your family and this craft?
Our dream is to continue sharing our craft with people around the world and for future generations of our family to continue this tradition.
What would you like people who one day have one of your rugs in their home to know?
We hope they understand the time, care and knowledge that goes into every handmade rug, and that they value the work behind each piece.
Thank you, Rosa, Diego and Rodrigo, for so generously sharing a little of your story.
It is a privilege to work alongside your family and to help share your remarkable craftsmanship with a wider audience. I hope these conversations help more people understand the time, care, creativity and generations of knowledge behind every rug you create.
With gratitude,
Nichola
