Our Story
We are the Gutiérrez family, a family of third-generation Zapotec weavers, and this is our story. It all started with Pedro and Margarita Gutiérrez, both passionate weavers who worked together as a team and set the example for their children. Pedro Gutiérrez was a full-time weaver and businessman who traveled to sell his rugs. His favorite place to travel was Merida, Yucatán, where he owned a store. Margarita Martinez was a loving and supportive wife to Pedro, and mother to seven children. Her role in the weaving industry was to wash the wool, dye the wool, make the skeins, clean rugs, and complete the rugs by making the tassel ends. Margarita and Pedro were hardworking individuals who wove for a living to sustain their family. Making ends meet in the ’70s wasn’t easy, so Pedro and Margarita dedicated their lives to weaving for them to bring food to the table. Later, Pedro’s work started to get recognized due to his ability to weave without having to draw on the strings, as many weavers draw on the strings currently. He would be able to weave exuberant drawings and intricate designs. His favorite designs to weave were what they called “ídolos,” also known as Aztec/Zapotec idols, which are found in codices and temples. Margarita never learned how to weave, but it didn’t mean she never wanted to learn. Due to the Spanish invasion and colonialism, they brought in their ideals of gender roles. Our ancestors believed that men and women had the ability to practice all forms of art, but not according to the Catholic Church. When the Spanish arrived they had established their institution. Women were only allowed to be housewives, while men were allowed to weave and work in the fields. This historical background explains why Margarita never learned how to weave and why she only helped her husband with the setup. Margarita was also known for her delicious chocolate that she used to sell in the flea market of our village. There isn’t a doubt these two hardworking people served as great examples for their children. Today, all of their children are successful master weavers and they are here to continue the legacy of their parents and ancestors.
Our Mission
Not only are we here to carry on the legacy of our grandparents, but we are also here to serve another purpose. Our objective is to recognize the work of all the weavers and their work. Some weavers from our village don’t get the recognition they deserve from their “patrones,” and it’s time to change how the weaving industry works. Our family and friends who weave take pride in their work and deserve all the admiration, along with a fair pay wage. Secondly, another way we would like to change the weaving industry is by having more brown/BIPOC representation as well as family-owned representatives. For us natives of Oaxaca, it’s important to embrace and protect our art and culture. Authenticity is our motto to preserve our roots.
The Faces Behind TZW
“My name is Rufina Gutierrez Martinez. I was born in Teotitlan Del Valle, Oaxaca. My parents are Pedro Gutierrez Hernandez and Margarita Martinez Matias. I only studied until middle school because I needed to help my parents with work. I have three brothers and sisters who are artisans. During my childhood I enjoyed creating art, music, and weaving. I helped my parents in their weaving business to make ends meet. At the age of 16 I became independent and moved to Tijuana, Baja California to look for more opportunities. Then at the age of 20 I immigrated to the United States where I met my husband and had our first daughter. In 2020 I became a U.S citizen during the pandemic. Today, I continue to work with my family’s craftmanship along with my daughter, Cinthia Vicente, with the purpose of helping our family who were affected by the pandemic to sell their pieces. Our objective is to continue growing and for people to value our craftsmanship. It’s important for people to support small Zapotec weaving businesses and to value their art, work and creativity. That is why our business, The Zapotec Weavers, is a collective of close friends and family members who deserve all the recognition for their hard work. All in all, I am proud to be oaxaqueña & a zapotec woman from Teotitlan Del Valle, the land of the zapotec gods”.
Rufina Gutierrez, Founder.
Born and raised in California, Cinthia was always connected to her culture. Her love for her village and people led her to start her family’s business. She stands for fair pay wages for her family, honesty towards her clients, and transparency towards her family business. Cinthia has a B.A in Spanish, Minor in Anthropology and AA Degree in Music.
Cinthia Vicente, Co-Founder.