San Pedro Abajo section 1, Temoaya, State of Mexico and Otomi town by Bob Freund 9/23/2005 for more information contact: info@mexicantextiles.com
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On the way into the co-op, out of the corner of my eye I noticed a larger that usual loom and stopped to find Maria Marelina preparing here loom to weave ixtle, a cactus fiber. This fiber is used to make ayates and men’s shoulder bags. It is an ancient fiber used since prehistoric times in Mexico.

San Pedro Abajo is divided into various sections, these sections are fiscal divisions, and the town sprawls out over rolling hills. The weaver`s collective is located in section 1. For many years the life blood of this town was its rug weaving co-op, ten years ago there were over 600 women working there. While I can`t really say how many work there now, it is clear that the rug making business isn´t what it used to be. There were some woman working on a very colorful carpet and they were more than willing to stand for some pictures and show me how they knotted a carpet. What is interesting in these indigenous towns is the frankness which these women speak. They asked all sorts questions about how I view them and their community. Pictured here are Manuela Flores Beseril and Ermelinda Bermudes Pomero, Manuela is standing on the left in the third picture the bottom row.