Fringe and yarn

Earlier this week I started telling you about my trip to Finland and the nice things I found there. While exploring Lahti, we went to this very nice café by the lake and next to it there was a handcrafts store full of beautiful things made in Finland. My love for yarn and knitting and for quirky earrings led me to buy this very cool pair. 

Although I consume a lot of fast fashion (for example this bag from Target), I also have a deep appreciation for things that are handmade and that support small businesses and artisans as my earrings made in Finland, my dress made in Mexico and my sandals made in Greece.

Doesn't it feel great to use pieces that carry a tradition, history and craftsmanship meaning?

• Blue dress with white polka dots print and pink embroidery: MARIANA GRAPAIN ETNO DISEÑO
• Leather handmade sandals with white fringe: LIZA'S LITTLE THINGS
• Blue bucket bag: TARGET
• Yarn earrings: SIRPA HAKALA

Fuchsia and polka dots

I  have been in Monterrey for 4 years now and I am lucky to be part of a work team that has embraced me and we have created a special bond. Since I started working here I have collaborated closely with Alberto and this has led to as becoming friends. So my thoughtful friend gave me as a Christmas present a handbag (shocker, right?)! It is a great fit since it is big enough to fit all of the things I carry with me every day at work and it is pink! So what more could I ask for? Oh and it matches my hair ;) 

• Blue polka dots dress with pink embroidery: MARIA GRAPAIN ETNO DISEÑO
• Long textured jacket: ASOS CURVE
• Fuchsia patent leather tote bag: WESTIES
• Navy blue moccasins: SCHUH

Shopping in Oaxaca

In October 2015 I travelled to Oaxaca with a group of my students and a colleague on a study trip. A friend of my colleague's who is local and helped us out with the organisation of everything one day took us to meet Mariana. Mariana is a woman from a community in Oaxaca that has a very interesting design studio where she is trying to rescue iconography and embroidery techniques from the different communities in Oaxaca and she collaborates with women from these communities to make the embroidery in clothing that she designs. Of course the process can take months but these women receive fair payment for their work, something that doesn't happen always.

I saw a dress in the studio that I really loved but it wasn't my size and I think it was probably already made for someone else so I didn't buy anything on the spot. On the last night we were in Oaxaca I decided to order a dress. Mariana took my measurements and I chose the fabric, the colour of the embroidery and the iconography. After some delays because she couldn't find the fabric I had asked for, finally I got to pick up my new dress now that I went back to Oaxaca for the wedding. So like a child I had to use my new dress immediately so I used it for a day of shopping and wandering around the city. 

• Polka dot dress with handmade embroidery: MARIANA GRAPAIN ETNO DISEÑO
• Fuchsia ballerina flats/fuchsia small cross body bag: KATE SPADE NEW YORK