Manuel Mendoza

"I was born in a small Oaxaca town in 1979. Weaving traditional Zapotec rugs and handbags is a craft thats been passed down from generation to generation in my family. When I was a boy, Id watch my father work. He eventually taught me to weave and I now teach my own children.

"First, we spin the wool into skeins, then we wash the yarn needs to prepare it for dyeing. I choose a color, and my wife helps me a lot with this step. We use cochineal, indigo and a medicinal plant known as pericón. Cochineal gives me red, cherry and pink, while indigo creates shades of blue. The pericón I find in the forests in September provides the yellow tones.

"The greatest challenge is creating a design, which I enjoy the most. Im inspired by archaeological sites, and by a perennial flower found in Oaxacas archaeological sites.

"The time needed to complete a rug or handbag depends on the size and design. The largest one I create is about six by eight, and can take more than two months to finish.

"Working on my own has been difficult, especially when Ive had to invest in the necessary materials, but Ive always managed to continue. The great part about this town is that we support each other by using materials from our own community."