Education & Qualification
Weaving Ancient Traditions Into the Fabric of Social Change
The women’s collective Cooperativa Vida Nueva in Oaxaca, Mexico, demonstrates how marginalized groups can harness their traditional skills and knowledge to improve their livelihoods and assert their rightful place in society. It is a colorful example of how ancient traditions are being woven into the fabric of social change.
Photos by Marc Beckmann
Visiting Pastora Asunción Gutierrez Reyes means seeing alchemy at work. Cochineal, a parasitic insect, is pulverized to create a deep red dye. Pomegranate peels simmer until they turn into a shiny yellow. And most importantly, a community of women turns from being shunned and shamed into an inspiring story about economic empowerment, cultural preservation, and overcoming adversity. Each product, each rug that is sold, goes 100% to the woman who created it,” says Pastora Gutierrez. “That is something that every woman is proud of and they are happy to have their earnings.”Watch the story of Pastora Gutierrez and Cooperativa Vida Nueva!
BMW Foundation stories: Economic Empowerment through Collaboration
Pastora Gutierrez describes how the women’s cooperative in Teotitlán del Valle has transformed the community over the past 30 years. Starting as a small group, the cooperative has grown as more women have joined, learning skills such as traditional weaving, cooking, and herbal medicine. “It was very difficult because, in the community, we faced gossip, criticism, mockery. And, well, sometimes they hurt us, they offended us, and we didn’t want to continue. But, among all, we always gave each other support,” says Pastora. The impact of her story goes beyond the community in Teotitlán del Valle. Some rugs are now shown in museums as examples of artistic and cultural expression.
As Pastora puts it, she weaved and wrote her own story. The designs are unique; they tell the story of hardship, collaboration, and female empowerment. They tell the story of rising within the social fabric of a community through self-empowerment. “There are things that we can express through our work,” says Pastora. “There are many women who see it or feel it just by looking at our rugs.”Many women in the collective have now started their own independent businesses, while the cooperative continues to undertake community projects like planting trees, donating to children, and supporting the elderly. The primary source of income for the women is selling their handmade crafts, particularly the traditional woven rugs, at local markets and fairs.
Pastora Asunción Gutierrez Reyes is proud of the achievements of Cooperativa Vida Nueva.
Pastora combs sheep's wool
Weaving is precise manual work.
The loom is made of hardwood and is many decades old.
Working on the loom requires concentration and coordination.
A key aspect of the women’s work is maintaining the traditional weaving techniques and designs passed down for generations. Pastora takes great pride in this heritage while encouraging the women to express their creativity through unique patterns and motifs. She sees this balance of tradition and innovation as vital to the cooperative’s success and growth. “I think that the designs that I’ve made have opened many doors for me because even if it’s one or two, they’ve been in museums.”
"I never imagined that my rugs would be seen in a museum, but it’s a tremendous pride."While Pastora’s story is rooted in the specific context of her Mexican community, the transformative power of collective action resonates universally. The journey of the Cooperativa Vida Nueva demonstrates how traditional skills and knowledge can be a force of economic empowerment, freeing oneself from social restraints.
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BMW Foundation Team