Just outside of Oaxaca City lies an oasis of handwoven cotton: the village of Santo Tomas Jalieza. Here, the backstrap loom is the heartbeat of almost every household.

We had the honor of meeting Oliva Mendoza, who at 74 years old, still weaves with the same precision she learned at age eight from her abuelita, Anacleta. When she was younger, she enjoyed working on finer, more tightly woven pieces with intricate patterns and designs - even winning her a couple of regional and national prizes.

Oliva remembers a time when the village women struggled to find a market for their work—until a guide named Don Pepe began bringing weekly visitors to the village on Fridays. That spark transformed the community. What began as a small Friday gathering grew into a thriving livelihood for local families.

Decades later, the Mendoza Family continues this legacy together. Today, even the men have joined the craft in other creative ways, breaking tradition to ensure the family business thrives. With a new weaving cooperative in town, these artisans are sharing their knowledge and securing a sustainable future through the art they love.