Our history

We are a collective brand of Mexican design, formed by social artisanal enterprises from the Yucatan Peninsula and a creative team that works to preserve the living Mayan culture. We work with different artisan communities to strengthen value chains and generate sustainable sources of income for them, through the fair creation and commercialization of artisanal pieces.

Taller Maya was born in 2002 as a response to an initiative to recover techniques specific to Mayan culture and training and self-management programs led by the Haciendas del Mundo Maya Foundation. Today, we collaborate with 42 artisan workshops in 32 communities of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Each of our pieces represents the dialogue between the wisdom of Mayan culture and contemporary design.‍

Our Impact

Training workshops

Generation of formal jobs

Fair trade advisory

Access to a global market

Generation of a strengthened community

Marilú Hernández, Founder
“We weave paths of success towards new forms of collaboration. Paths to innovative proposals in which the wisdom, the aesthetic sense of the Mayan culture and contemporary design are linked in unique concepts.”

Artisans and their work

Each social enterprise works in a workshop with the tools to create unique handmade objects using ancestral techniques and materials from their region, carrying the history and knowledge of their land and Maya culture. We start with a vision of cultural rescue in harmony with the community. Social enterprises work side by side with the design team to create a dialogue between the wisdom of Maya culture and contemporary design. Taller Maya‘s work as a platform for access to a network of fair and global trade has had a tangible impact on artisan communities in the Yucatan Peninsula.‍

Techniques

WARPED

Developed in the Antilles. Over time, it has been perfected by Mayan artisans into a meditative art.

STONE CARVING

From miniature pieces to monumental ones, it was one of the greatest artistic expressions of the ancient Maya civilization.

WOODCARVING

Another of the greatest artistic expressions of the ancient Maya. Today, artisans sustainably collect wood from the jungle floor.

MAYA WAIST LOOM

Developed by the Mayan culture in the western mountains of Guatemala. The loom is secured at two ends, one of them being the weaver‘s waist.

HORN CARVING

It was introduced in the Viceroyalty in Mexico and has been perfected over time by the Mayans. Today, only recovered material is used.

PEDAL LOOM

Introduced during the Colonial era to Mexico and originating from Egypt. Ideal for working on large formats. The Mayans developed textiles since pre-Hispanic times.

SEWED HENEQUEN

The wet and combed fibers of the native material from the Peninsula are circularly rolled, forming layers that are sewn together to construct everyday objects.

FILIGREE

It has its origin in Mixtec culture but developed in Yucatan during the Conquest of Mexico. Fine threads of silver and gold are used to create different organic patterns.

PALM TISSUE
Originally from tropical areas, it has been developed in various cultures including the Maya for the creation of everyday objects.
JIPIJAPA FABRIC
Jipijapa is a plant native to the tropical zones of the American continent. Mayan artisans collect jipi to prepare its fibers and weave them.
MACHINE EMBROIDERY
Represents the skill and ability of artisans to capture the tradition and motifs of the Yucatan Peninsula through a tool.
HAND EMBROIDERY

It originated in pre-Hispanic times in Mexico and transformed during the Colonial era. It is used to embroider elements of nature in bright colors.

subscribe to our newsletter
Mexican Handcrafted Design - Maya Workshop
Discover Taller Maya, a collective brand rooted in the rich Mayan culture of the Yucatan Peninsula. Since 2002, we have been dedicated to revitalizing ancestral techniques and generating sustainable income opportunities
2021-2023 © Taller Maya. All rights reserved.