Meet The Artisan

For 10 years now, we have focused on fulfilling the mission with which we established ourselves as a company: to contribute to the well-being of the communities where artisans live, integrating their traditional work into innovative products and channels that generate fair and constant employment opportunities. Over time, we have added more and more communities with whom we work hand in hand, as well as aligning ourselves with 8 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. And for some years now, we have managed to launch our Meet The Artisan platform.

What is Meet The Artisan about?

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

It is a platform designed to complement our mission and that covers one of the most important characteristics that define us: that those who receive a product from Someone Somewhere can connect with the artisan who created their new garment or accessory. Our label is designed so that things don't just stay with you receiving your favorites, but that you can know who created them and where they come from, as well as learn more about the artisans through this platform.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ 

How does it work?

First, you can check the label of your Someone Somewhere t-shirts, backpacks, cases, and sweatshirts. Remember that SOMEONE is for the artisans who create your products, and SOMEWHERE is for the place they call home. Then, you enter the MTA platform and type the name of the artisan. You will be able to read: who they are, what their dreams are, and more. Also, you can connect with them by leaving them a little message. Meet The Artisan is a platform for you, so feel free to express yourself as much as you want!

All messages reach the artisans in their different communities. And seeing them enjoy their work and feel proud of it is what motivates us to continue taking Mexican craftsmanship further.

Among the testimonials, you will find anecdotes of all kinds. Among them, two of the most exciting for us are those of Gilberto and Viridiana. Below we show you a narrative version taken from the interview they gave us last year.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Gilberto (Oaxaca)

At the end of another day, another wall painted from top to bottom, Gilberto returned exhausted to his home in a community in Oaxaca. He was walking down the dirt road directly to the little house he had built for his family, when something caught his attention. He had never stopped to observe that tree before, but now, in bloom and with the first fruits of the rains, he couldn't resist approaching the fenced land. It wasn't a difficult fence to cross, and the plums looked so delicious, still bathed by the remnants of last night's downpour. Without thinking twice, he entered the stranger's land, unaware that a neighbor was watching him from the road. Before finding out what Gilberto was doing, the neighbor ran down the road to report that he was up to something.

Sooner than we would have liked, the police responded to the call, quickly went to the land next to the road and found Gilberto still picking plums and enjoying them.

"Look at you stealing, you son of a gun!"

Gilberto wanted to apologize, but he struggled to articulate with the bite still between his teeth. The police were already apprehending him with a pair of handcuffs, while the plums rolled from the painter's hands. A man walking down the side of the road heard the struggle, the insults from the authorities, the neighbor's curses, and something in Gilberto's attitude made him understand the injustice.

"Hey, gentlemen! Where are you taking my boy? I told him to pick his plums to take them home, I know the owner of the land."

"Do you know this man, sir?"

"He works with me in the looms, he just left my workshop and was on his way home."

The authorities had no choice but to release Gilberto and leave after the man's insistence. The young man thanked him and accompanied him the rest of the way. The man did not miss the opportunity to formally invite him to join his weaving workshop, to which Gilberto, feeling indebted and committed to returning the favor, accepted without thinking twice. He spent twelve years perfecting his technique on the chicotillo loom, until the workshop owner passed away. Gilberto continued in the workshop, always grateful to life for having allowed him to find his path.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Viridiana (Oaxaca)

Viri, in her home kitchen, prepares the jellies and custards that her daughters will help her sell tomorrow while she works her shift in the workshop that provides for the family. She greatly enjoys this moment of the day, as she can talk freely and spend time with her family. Not only does she find fulfillment in working on the chicotillo loom, dancing to the rhythm of weaving, but she also loves baking, occasionally taking on styling jobs, and socializing with neighbors and colleagues. However, work at the workshop consumes most of her day; sometimes money is scarce, so there isn't always enough to buy ingredients. Even so, she likes to stay active, feeling that little by little she is providing a better future for her daughters.

She has been working as a weaver for a little over a year. Since she arrived, getting along has been slow and difficult, mainly because most of her colleagues are quiet and she is, as they often tell her, "very chatty." She enjoys socializing with everyone, conversation is a passion for Viridiana, but apparently, the atmosphere in the workshop is somewhat reserved. Last Christmas, she wanted to organize a gathering, with a piñata, food, and everything, but since she hardly spoke to anyone, the opportunity didn't arise. Soon she made new friends, so for the second Christmas she experienced at the workshop, organizing a posada with a gift exchange was a piece of cake.

Thanks to Viri, communication among fellow artisans had become intimate, trusting, and natural. Each of her colleagues offered to bring the best dish they made at home, the best pulque, tequila, chilate; there were those who volunteered to play the guitar, the accordion, sing, and of course, those who offered to decorate the workshop, buy fireworks, bring desserts for everyone. The camaraderie and spirit of coexistence experienced not only by artisans, but also some of their children and compadres, was rarely seen at Christmas parties.

"It was very beautiful, everything went very well, Viri. If you hadn't encouraged everyone to participate, it wouldn't have been so great."

"It's just that I don't need a special date to socialize, as long as we all get together and have a good time, I'm happy. That's why I always socialize with everyone."

 

You too can learn more about the incredible work of hundreds of Mexican artisans and connect with them through our platform. Explore new horizons with the products you'll find in our online store.

Remember to follow us on our Instagram to continue connecting with thousands of stories: @someonesomewhere.mx