We begin our journey in the center of the colorful city of Oaxaca. We explore this architectural treasure and discover the rich cultural gems it has to offer. You’ll have this day to settle in, roam the streets, and simply take it all in, before meeting for a delicious dinner and your first introduction to Oaxcan gastronomy. We begin the week’s activities with a guided walking tour of the tree-lined streets of Oaxcan. We’ll learn about the art, culture, and community while shooting Oaxcan daily life. We’ll visit a graphic studio and one of the most colorful and lively markets in the city. We’ll have lunch on a leafy Oaxcan patio, getting to know the unique traditional cuisine. 

The next day, we’ll visit Teotitlan del Valle, a village outside of the city where the Zapotec language and culture are celebrated and practiced daily. This vibrant community nestled between the mountains is also renowned for its naturally dyed wool rugs. We’ll visit the studio of a women’s weaving cooperative who formed in the 1990s. With these inspiring women, we’ll take a workshop where we’ll learn the process of weaving a rug and dyeing with natural pigments to create our own piece. We’ll eat with a traditional Oaxcan chef, learn how to make drinking chocolate from cacao and finish the day visiting the house of a family who make beeswax candles that are used in Zapotec ceremonies. 

The next day, we’ll visit a Oaxacan designer and artisan in her ceramics studio. She works in Oaxcan clays in low temperatures and will share her beautiful unique pieces with us. We’ll end with a vist to TEXERE, a textile residency and cultural space.

Our final day, we’ll visit a textile designer and a Zapotec photographer. We’ll learn about her stories, processes and explore her creative space. Afterwards, we’ll have our photo shoot with a Mexcian designer who creates unique tailor-made pieces from natural fibers and natural pigments. We’ll have access to her clothes and studio for our photo shoot to play with light, textures, colors and movement. 

We’ll end the trip with a farewell dinner and toast with mezcal for our final night!