The making of wool rugs is one of the most popular artisan handcrafts of Oaxaca, especially in the town of Teotitlan del Valle, a village that has become extremely famous for its abundance of workshops where this ancestral technique is exhibited. Its production is a process that is transmitted from generation to generation and resorts of extremely rudimentary but effective methods. When they have the necessary wool, the craftsman begin by brushing it. Subsequently, it must be spun and ordered in large bunches that are easy to manipulate.
The coloration of these pieces of wool should be through natural dyes that are obtained from plants and insects such as: huizache, indigo, cochineal, indigo, rock moss and cempaxuchitl flower, among others. The first thing that is done is to wash the raw wool and then go through the bath color where (depending on the amount of dye and the time left to rest) will acquire the necessary appearance for their fabric.
The traditional loom is manipulated manually and it is the work of the creator to give the size, colors and drawings that will represent the future work of art. It should be mentioned that there are fabrics painted with artificial colors. These creations bear no relation to price compared to works made with natural products. It is one of the best-known and most picturesque towns in the beloved state of Oaxaca, and there is no better way to buy artisan work than directly from the people who used their hands, time and heart to create them.
