The Story
In 1997 my love story with Mexico started. But actually it happened much earlier, because when I first arrived in Mexico, I felt that this was my home. The warm people, the colorful culture, it was so easy to talk to them about any spiritual topic, it was not so limited. It seemed that the awareness of the little things in life was much more profound than in my home country. There was a magical atmosphere in the air, I felt that you could feel the ancestors and the mystical culture of the ancestors everywhere. The ancient culture is still very present. The profound knowledge of healing, the healing of plants, the food very celebrated by this culture which is a central theme and all the different peoples such as the Zapotecs, Toltecs, Mayas, Aztecs, Mixtecs, Otomis, Wixaritaris and many more who still speak their own languages. It is a tremendous land, with profound beauty and profound knowledge, there was a feeling of being accepted, a kind of freedom. After many years of this connection the desire to bring this culture and its colorful materials and works to other places in the world occurred. The authenticity and energy can be felt in every single piece.
 

In my younger years I fell in love with this country and spent a few years in the state of Oaxaca and also in Mexico City. Of course, during this time I got to know some people dedicated to Mexican handicrafts and many other contacts arose. I also began to create jewelry myself from silver with precious stones. The meaning of the stones always fascinated me. By living in Mexico, I got to know the culture quite well. When I came back to Switzerland, it was impossible for me to forget the life in Mexico and there was always something missing. In the last few years, this reawakened in intense form and so, despite all the headwinds, I listened to my feelings and traveled there again. And it was the right decision, because the project MIXTU came into life.
 

The project

Many cultures have survived after a tragic oppression. They are still oppressed today. The languages of these cultures are connected to the health of the earth and when people weave or embroider, it is a ritual. They want to preserve their traditions, culture and beliefs and often this is their only way to survive, as their land has often been taken away from them, such as the family in San Cristobal with whom I work.
 

 

The small store in the old town of Winterthur
Exactly two years ago I was lucky enough to find the small room in the basement in the old town of Winterthur and so I was able to finance the project and the store besides my job as an employee in the music business. Of course, this meant about 100% work, in addition to the 100% job, I always opened the store on Saturdays. Last year it came to another big change, because in the small store wasn't just a sales area, but it almost developed into a get-together for very special people who have a love for detail and who became more and more a part of this store. So it became more and more important to me, and i also I realized how important it is for the women in Mexico, so it was more and more impossible for me to work in the fixed narrow structures of a fixed framework, because i couln't grow that way, so I left the employment and dared the step into self-employment. Now I work individually with musicians and do their promotion and run the small store. 

Mixtu
The label Mixtu also produces and designs its own clothing, in collaboration with the artisans and families and thus we support the culture and the artisans and their families in Mexico. The idea is to support this people and bring their fantastic colors to other countries. It is important to keep alive these techniques and the life of the ancestors. Everything is handmade with love and is made of natural materials. The colors are dyed from plants, vegetables, spices and insects. The idea is to support these people where it helps them the most.

We work with various women and families and also with designers from Mexico, who also support indigenous women, or are themselves.
 

 

Thank you for visiting our site & the store ~ Muchas Gracias

Jennifer Baccouche , Mixtu