Heritage by Hand: Nahua Wool Collection

Image: All images courtesy Heritage by Hand

Heritage by Hand is a socially responsible lifestyle brand based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, that promotes handmade products made by master artisans with shapes, colors, and textures inspired by the natural world. Their sustainable clothing, accessory, and home product lines are made by hand from natural, organic, and recycled materials.

The Nahua Heritage collection comes from Hueyapán, in the Sierra Poblana outside of Puebla, Mexico, by way of their partner, La Monarca. If ever there was a parallel to the idea of “farm-to-table” or “farm to fabric” for heritage textiles, this collection is a perfect example. Nahua weavers create such beauty from the creole sheep they tend and the myriad natural dye plants, fruits, and insects they harvest from season to season in the mountains outside of Puebla so as not to harm the delicate balance in their environment.

The tunics, called a tomicotón, have a tree of life design embroidered in indigo, cochineal, or natural white wool on the front and back, which is an important feature of the Nahua cosmovision. The geometric borders signify the journey of life. Small ponchos, called quexquemetl in Nahuatl, come in tones of marigold yellows and browns, green lichens and mosses, indigo, and cochineal red with designs that represent the elements.

Heidi McKinnon expresses the ethos of Heritage by Hand in a personal way: “What we are sharing is unique and precious. These are pieces to cherish. Anything made by hand, no matter how large or small, carries an intention and energy that will enhance your life. The more we surround ourselves with that intention and share it with others, the closer we may be to finding a balance in our world and our collective lives.”

Follow Heritage by Hand on Instagram for more information and to view their range of heritage textiles and sustainable pieces for the home: @heritagebyhand

Alternatively, visit the Heritage by Hand website.