On the foothills of the Popocatépetl Volcano, a tradition of backstrap loom weaving continues through the hands of Cirila Aragón Cortés and her family. In the town of Hueyapan Morelos, in Central Mexico, women used to get a basket full of wool when they got married so that they could make a gaban (poncho) for their husband just as their mothers had taught them. Cirilia noticed that through the generations, the craft was getting lost so she, along with her daughter Margarita Torres, decided to do something about it, and so Cozamalotl was founded. 

The Cozamalotl Collective, meaning “rainbow” in Náhuatl, works with indigenous women of various ages, three of them master weavers, including Cirilia, to keep the traditional techniques alive. This intergenerational bond is vital to ensuring the survival of their art and it all begins with the land; using dyes derived from flowers and nature such as cempasúchil, pericón, and grana cochinilla. The bright colors are a tribute to the blue skies, green forests, and blooming flowers of the mountains. Each textile is created with deep respect for nature and a commitment to preserving ancestral techniques. The process is labor-intensive, from dyeing the wool with natural pigments to weaving on inherited looms, each piece may take 1 to 2 months to finish. Every piece reflects her unparalleled craftsmanship and heart.