Colors and Natural Dyes in Weaving in Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca

The weavers of this area are well known for their expertise. Most families start their children in this process at about 8 years of age introducing them to the components of weaving, including the wool, natural dyes, looms and techniques. We have been fortunate in being able to see a number of rugs both in the markets and at the weavers studios and homes. Edgar our guide on two occasions, has taken us to the studios of prominent artists of the area. On this tour we found out that he too is a weaver of Zapotec origin and started at age 8. At our first stop in this village we saw the process of natural dyes and a rug that Edgar had woven. Bellita was on the hunt for one for her home in Charlotte, N.C and we had seen several in one of the local Mercados and had started the negotiating process only to not be able to come to an equitable agreement with the vendor.

On this trip to the village itself, the first stop was to a coop where a number of weavers had their products. Here we learned about the dyes and the difference between those yarns dyed the traditional way and those the modern way. Modern not always being the best.

Many rugs from the village were sent to the US for sale. While the rugs was sold as traditional, we learned that they were not, but synthetic dyes were used, making it an easier process. The difference is that in the modern system the dyes have brighter colors. The natural dyes are muted based on the use of pigments obtained from pecan nut shells, browns, blues from the indigo plant, reds from the cocineal insect that grows on the cactus, and other such materials for other colors, and using citrus for one color and adding baking soda for alkaline produces a different color. The process is quite intense.

In the second weavers studio, Bellita found the rug of her dreams and bought it. The weaver is Juan Ramon Martinez Vazquez located at Av.Juarez No. 219 C. P. 70 20 in Teotitlan..