The non-profit Ensamble Artesano co-op was formed with a mandate to preserve Mexican culture and to jump start economic reactivation in artisan areas around the country. Their criteria for membership is vigorous: design, creative production, local, fair and responsible trade.
This Bird’s Nest Basket is made of hand-woven wicker from Tequisquiapan, Querétaro – a designated Pueblo Magico (Magic Town). In fact, the town is known throughout Mexico as the ‘Basketmaking Paradise’ and its inhabitants are recognized for their high-quality craftsmanship. For much of its history, the population was predominantly indigenous, so the artisanal production flows from their ancestral culture. Both the materials and their techniques for creating crafts are rooted in respect for deep nature. The elaborate techniques are teachings that are transmitted from generation to generation.
Most of these talented artisans are women who are able, through this cooperative, to earn income and preserve their culture while still caring for their children. The craftsmanship that has been woven into these baskets has been handed down for centuries, providing multi-generations of artisans with a path toward building a better life.