If you’ve been lucky enough to scale its ancient Mayan pyramids or marvel at its thousand-year-old pottery, you’ll know that Mexico’s homegrown creativity is as old as time. Over the past few years, though, the country has rightfully returned to everyone’s radar as a hub of world-class design. And from the rich textiles of fashion visionary Carla Fernández to the geometric marvels of architect Tatiana Bilbao, the most exciting projects coming out of Mexico are women-led.
While we highly recommend a trip to CDMX for anyone with a creative bone in their body (or a hankering to shop in the coolest indie boutiques known to man), a trip isn’t the only way to jump on the Mexican wave. Whether you’re in the market for a one-of-a-kind accessory or just want to be in the know, these are the Mexican designers to follow, covet and shop right now...
The Rebel Jeweller: Georgina Treviño
Raised in Tijuana, Georgina Treviño is a force of fierce, fearless creativity disrupting the world of jewellery design. She’s decorated the world’s most famous faces, from Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga to Beyoncé (who wore a pair of custom Treviño earrings to promote her Renaissance tour) and she shows no signs of slowing down.
Known for her irreverent statement designs, Treviño makes metalwork for the boldest among us. Her giant hoops dripping in diamanté and scorpion motifs and her chunky bow-shaped rings big enough to cover three fingers are just some of the items on our Wish List. Recently, she revealed on Instagram just how much she’s enjoying coming up with her out-of-the-box designs, and confirmed there are plenty more on the way. “It’s all about the details, and the adrenaline high of deadlines,” she said, teasing her next collection.
The Accessories Sisterhood: Aurelia Parrondo
Sisters Andrea, Magdalena and Paula de la Torre Suárez founded their accessories brand Aurelia Parrondo almost by mistake. In 2017, Andrea was the coordinator for the FEMSA artistic residence programme in CDMX cultural institution Casa Luis Barragán, where she met artisan woodworker Daniel Díaz. He agreed, as a personal favour, to help her create a wooden handbag inspired by her childhood. Paula and Magdalena jumped in too, injecting their own vision and originality, and their brand was born.
“As funny as it sounds, my Polly Pocket collection was my inspiration,” says Andrea. “I had an obsession with little boxes and the idea of having one that contained not only your personal items, but your whole world.” From that first hand-crafted accessory to the fully stocked concept store they now run, the De La Torre sisters have made their mark on Mexican fashion. Rooted in the country’s rich equestrian tradition, Aurelia’s belts and bags are all made using classic charrería techniques, which involve spinning an ixtle rope in fluid movements. Their signature Ladrillo bag, made with recycled and reforested woods, can be worn with interchangeable straps handcrafted by artisans – proof that refreshing your look never has to cost the Earth.
The Traditional Ceramicist: Perla Valtierra
Raised by a photographer father and a mother who worked in a cultural office, Perla Valtierra grew up with an eye for beauty. After studying industrial design in Mexico City, she decided to spend a semester learning about sustainability in Montreal, and today she’s a successful ceramicist who is passionate about protecting the natural world throughout her creative process.
“Not producing ephemeral pieces is key to my brand’s legacy,” she says. “Ceramics gain their worth through the artistry that allows for new forms, but above all, by the way life is experienced through them.” She creates otherworldly crafts with reality in mind: deep vases made to cradle fresh flowers, sculptural mugs you’ll actually drink coffee from each morning.
Perla thrives on collaborative creativity and has worked alongside traditional ceramicist Don Jesús for seven years. “All the pieces made in the potter’s wheel are a co-interpretation that mixes my ideas and design with his savoir-faire,” she says. Most recently, too, she’s teamed up with Japanese kintsugi (the art of repairing broken pottery) practitioner Arisa Nishino on a collection called ‘Reason Behind The Scars’ which is, ironically, quite perfect.
The Luxury Fashion Founder: Lorena Saravia
When Lorena Saravia launched her eponymous fashion brand in 2010, she knew it meant a lifetime commitment. Though it’s already been through several reinventions, Lorena always honours one important mantra: “Knowing who you are, where you came from, where you are and where are you going.”
She credits her determination to the women who raised her; their quilting sessions accompanied by the musical clink of the sewing machine. She’s also fascinated by Mexican revolutionary figures such as Emiliano Zapata. “His boots and leather chaps inspired my last collection, and the Saravia cowboy boots continue to be my most successful design,” she says.
Her family’s 100-year-old photo collection also feeds into the powerful pieces she designs for her clientele, known as the Saravia Girls. “I want them to have statement pieces that can be part of their day-to-day; the leather jacket you’ll put on three times per week and feel like you can rule the world,” she says. This year, a major collaboration with H&M means more of us than ever will be able to call ourselves Saravia Girls, and add more Mexican magic to our wardrobes.
Additional words by Meena Alexander.
