Sunday, November 14, 2010

Items Online!

Please check out our items online at Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/ModaTierra

Friday, April 30, 2010

3rd Avenue Fair- Saturday May 1



This week, Mexico has been in the news on the other side of the border: Arizona police now have the right to demand papers from anyone deemed suspicious of being illegal. How ironic that a region that was once part of Mexico is now an unwelcome environment to them?

ModaTierra's response to Arizona's stringent and racist immigration law is to put more money and support back into Mexico. Migrant and immigrant workers in Arizona are hailing from regions in Mexico with rich craft traditions. Many of the villages that ModaTierra works with are female-dominated towns, since all the men have gone to the US in search of better opportunities.

On Saturday, May 1, ModaTierra will be at the 3rd Avenue Fair between 14th and 15th streets selling an exciting line of spring textiles, particularly scarves that will keep you warm when you enter that highly air-conditioned restaurant, or take that nice walk along the water. We recommend this striped scarf, which is very versatile; it can even serve as a last minute picnic blanket.

Although we work predominantly with Oaxacan and Chiapan textiles, the patterns in this scarf are typically Mexican, and by wearing it you will be showing support to the women and the nation that creates them.

Gracias!

Friday, February 5, 2010

Gabriel Orozco at MoMA




ModaTierra strives to bring traditional Mexican culture to a contemporary audience, but we are not the only ones taking Mexican traditions to the next level. Gabriel Orozco's retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art highlights the twenty year career of the avant-garde artist who hails from Jalapa, Veracruz.
The artist's strength lies is arranging found objects into a quasi-surreal setting: Four Bicycles (1994) is reminiscent of M.C. Escher's tesselations, yet the material implies a kinetic realism that the viewer can relate to.

Imposing geometrical shapes on photographs is another modern trick implored by Orozco. In Atomist (1996), the viewer is forced to break down her expectations of a traditional image, and think of basic shapes that contribute to movement.

Orozco's presence in the contemporary art scene is very important in putting Mexico on an artsy New Yorker's radar. The way he engages found objects with elements of Mexican pop culture is another example of ModaTierra's goals to bring Mexican culture to the forefront of contemporary fashion.

Friday, January 29, 2010

the Market NYC


New Yorkers: Make sure to make your way to SoHo tomorrow to check out ModaTierra at the Market NYC.
We are excited about showing everyone our winter line, including tons of warm hats and scarves, along with embri0dered wool sweaters.

Hiram, a Chiapas native, really knows how to rock this sweater, typical of "coletos," or people from San Cristóbal. The coletos swear by these not only in the winter months but all year 'round.

Meanwhile, down the mountain in the midday sun, our crocheted hats can protect your burning head, but keep it toasty when you head back to San Cris in the evening.

Come see the rest tomorrow!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

LOS QUE SE QUEDAN
Check out the new Mexican documentary film Los Que Se Quedan (Those Who Remain) by Carlos Hagerman and Juan Carlos Ruflo at El Museo de Barrio in Spanish Harlem, NYC. Cine Lation en Nueva York (cinelatinony.blogspot.com) rates the film a must see!

The film follows several different Mexican families (both Oaxacan and Chiapan families are portrayed) that are broken apart when members migrate to the United States. The documentary depicts the intricate relationship the U.S. and México share and the need for better communication to develop.

Watch the trailer on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqAij3a5ez0

Thursday, January 7, 2010

New items for sale


Our etsy site: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ModaTierra is now up-to-date with our latest items from Mexico. It was a great opportunity to be in México for Christmas and New Years to get to know some of the women that we work with. Here is a shot of Prema talking to a mother/daughter team from Santo Tomás, Oaxaca. We fell in love with this weaving technique, and brought back several different sized bags that Maria (the mother) is already making in very contemporary designs. Its amazing how these Zapotec women from a small village in Oaxaca can have a sense of urban style -- but they get it!

Emily took a break from s
hopping to check out the ruins of Toniná, Chiapas. The amazing thing about Chiapas is that some of the Mayan rituals practiced at the very ruins she visited are still alive and well in Chiapas.

We were amazed, yet again, at how much Oaxaca and Chiapas have to offer.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Greetings from Mexico!

Happy New Year from ModaTierra! We have spent the past month in Mexico scouring the markets for goodies to bring home to you.

So far, you can look forward to wool scarves with our San Andres design, colorful patchwork skirts, beautiful stone and seed jewelry, and some wonderful bags.

Make sure to keep checking etsy.com/shop/modatierra for the most current merchandise.