The Womens Cooperative

Location
5 de mayo No. 204 Centro
Oaxaca, Mexico

Shopping

By Michelle Hopey

The Regional Association of Craftswomen of Oaxaca (Mujeres Artesanas de las Regiones de Oaxaca or M.A.R.O) is a large cooperative on Calle 5 de Mayo, where a variety of traditional Oaxacan arts and crafts are displayed and sold.

Made with raw materials from the Oaxaca region and using shapes, designs, colors and textiles all specific to Oaxaca culture these woman have created an authentic Oaxacan shop that sells nearly everything you can think of from one-of-a-kind hand-painted pottery to hand-weaved rugs, wooden sculptures, traditional clothes, silver jewelry, leather products and, of course, special Oaxacan treats such as Mole sauce and chocolate.

The cooperative got its start after a group of Oaxacan women became concerned that traditional Oaxaca arts and crafts were being falsely reproduced and represented, with technology and in factories. Upset that arts and crafts in Oaxaca were being made under the guise of "traditional" crafts and had no connection to the artistic process practiced by the various ethnic groups of Oaxaca, the women felt it was the artistic process which made the crafts "traditional".

The group, who formed as M.A.R.O, chose to bring the products and people together and sell down-home traditonal products made by hand in a cooperative.

According to M.A.R.O each craftswomen and administrator involved takes part in all stages of the production process--from the purchase of raw materials to the selling of goods.

Shopping at the cooperative is not only is a sure-fire way to make sure the product you are buying is a quality piece of traditional art, but the purchase is also likely hand-made with love and care from one of the women in the shop.

Getting There: Three blocks south of Santo Domingo Church on a 5 de Mayo y Avenida Morelos. Cinco de Mayo is one of the cobble stone pedestrian walkways in the historic center.

Open Hours from:09:00

Open Hours to:08:00

Days Closed:none

Contact Information:
Phone: 01 (951) 51 6 06 70