Isabela Maya

"My dream is to preserve and promote the Ch’ol embroidery "

While I was studying in Guadalajara, I sold handicrafts to support my expenses. They were Oaxacan handicrafts and products, since my tutor worked with producers and artisans from that region, little by little I began to look for more options and indigenous groups, we formed a group known as Tianguis Artesanal Indígena. In addition to selling organic products and handicrafts, we organized events of the different cultures of those who constitute the Tianguis, in order to publicize our roots, I even gave classes in my language at the university or at some cultural event. Knowing other cultures that were similar to mine made me feel at home.

However, I felt that I was missing something, I was not promoting Ch’ol embroidery, it was not due to lack of desire, but because I did not have pieces of that art, my grandmother was already very ill and soon after she passed away. In my community the daughters of the next generation had stopped embroidering. Between my sisters and I we began to make some pieces, it was difficult for us because although we had learned when we were children, we had no longer practiced.

Being outside my community, I began to appreciate my culture more, to value it, because in Palenque I had felt a bit of discrimination for being indigenous and that pained me a bit, after being away for many years that sense turned into pride.

After a few years I returned to Palenque, this time I was willing to learn more about embroidery, I wanted to make it known, it saddened me to know that it was little known, as if we were forgotten. I took traditional embroidery and dressmaking classes, I began to make the first pieces in classes, I wanted to make different models from the traditional, I encountered a little resistance at the beginning but little by little they liked my innovations, then they asked me to use them. I made a magazine model with traditional embroidery and that's how little by little I was making more fashionable designs without losing the Ch'ol essence.

One of my main goals is for women in my community to learn embroidery again and continue this tradition, because it is being lost. Additionally, there is an economic need for many women, they could work from home, have an income and meet their needs.

News / Media

I have been interviewed by different media, I invite you to learn more about my work