Huanengo Anita

Based in: Mexico

The huanengo is a traditional blouse from Michoacán, Mexico, crafted entirely by hand on a pedal loom. This piece features detailed cross-stitch embroidery, skillfully made by Purépecha artisans from the Michoacán sierra. It's a timeless garment that showcases the artisans' expertise and commitment to traditional techniques, offering a unique blend of craftsmanship and cultural heritage.

"We weave our own canvases, and we embroider on them. By acquiring one of our pieces, you are wearing our memory and heritage; we want you to take them with you and show off our traditions; it doesn't matter if you use a classic huanengo or one of our most current proposals; they all represent who are we."

Please note all pieces are handmade, therefore, no item will be alike. All designs vary!

• Made in: Michoacán, Mexico
• Color: White
• Material: Cotton
• Production Time: 1 month
  
• Embroidery: Cross-stitch embroidery
• Technique: pedal loom, cross-stitch
• Iconography: The embroidery represents elements of Purépecha culture, including depictions of the region's flora and fauna.
• Specification: Hand-dyed cotton top woven on a pedal loom featuring traditional iconography
• Care Instructions: Your garment took weeks of work to be ready and went through many hands, so it must be treated with great respect. It is recommended to wash item by hand, preferably with gentle soap, air dry in the shade away from the sun, and never use the dryer. Finally, we remind you that these are garments to wear with great pride; that is the best way to honor the artisan hands involved.

• Please note that each piece is unique, and the tones of the loom and embroidery may vary slightly from what you see in the photographs. 

The creation of each piece is a labor of love, rooted in the time-honored traditions of skilled artisans. It begins with the careful sourcing of raw cotton, which is then transformed into beautiful cloth through a meticulous, hands-on process. First, the raw cotton is cleaned and transformed into yarn. Once prepared, the cotton can be hand-dyed using natural, plant-based pigments. The dyeing process is done slowly and thoughtfully, allowing the fibers to absorb the pigments evenly, creating a depth of color that can only be achieved through traditional, non-industrial methods.

After the cotton is dyed, it is woven on a pedal loom, an ancient technique that requires skill, patience, and precision. This loom work is entirely manual, with each thread carefully guided by the artisan’s hands. No industrial fabrics are involved—each piece of cloth is crafted from the ground up, honoring the slow fashion philosophy that values craftsmanship and sustainability. The result is a fabric that is entirely unique, with subtle variations that reflect the personal touch of the weaver and the natural flow of the loom. Every inch of the fabric embodies the artisan's commitment to creating something truly special, free from the mass production that dominates the modern textile industry.

Once the fabric is woven, the true artistry emerges in the next stage, where each piece is meticulously hand-embroidered with traditional iconography. These intricate designs, crafted stitch by stitch, tell stories of cultural heritage and spiritual connection, bringing to life symbols that have been cherished by communities for generations. The embroidery not only adds beauty but also carries profound meaning, allowing the garment to become a wearable narrative of Purépecha history.

This entire process, from sourcing the cotton to completing the embroidery, takes approximately a month of dedicated work, during which many skilled hands contribute their expertise. Each piece is made with love, care, and a deep sense of pride. When you wear it, you’re not just wearing a garment—you’re embracing the essence of the artisans who devoted themselves to its creation.

To honor the connection between maker and wearer, each garment includes a tag with the name of the artisan whose work you are supporting. Wearing this piece allows you to carry with you the stories, skills, and traditions of a community, encouraging you to wear it with great pride—knowing that you are helping to preserve their craft and culture.

Every year in Uruapan, the Feria Artesanal serves as a cornerstone for Michoacán's artisan community, traditionally providing the main source of income for local artisans. However, in 2020, the global pandemic forced the cancellation of this vital event, leaving artisans without a platform to showcase or sell their crafts. It was in response to this challenge that Tsanda was born.

Launched as a non-profit initiative, Tsanda emerged with the mission of supporting artisan families by promoting and selling their handcrafted textiles through social networks. What began as a grassroots effort to restore lost income quickly gained momentum. By September of the same year, the overwhelming support for the project led to the official founding of Tsanda as a brand, with the goal of sharing a piece of Michoacán's rich artisan heritage with the world.

Today, Tsanda has evolved into more than just a marketplace for handmade textiles—it has become a driving force of inspiration, preservation, and respect for Purépecha culture. The project has not only provided a stable source of work for artisans but also fostered economic independence for these families. Currently, 12 artisan families across seven different communities collaborate with Tsanda, and the project continues to grow with a vision of incorporating even more families and integrating a diverse range of traditional textile techniques.

By empowering artisans and celebrating the cultural richness of Michoacán, Tsanda aims to take these extraordinary crafts to all corners of the world, allowing each piece to carry the story of its people and the traditions they cherish.

"Tsanda we are the daughters, mothers, and grandmothers of the Purépecha culture. We reflect our hereditary knowledge of many years of history with each thread and each stitch that we capture in our textiles.

With our embroideries, the light of the family tradition is kept alive; that is why each Tsanda piece is made to be worn with great pride. We feel a deep affection for our roots, the Purépecha culture, and the place where we grew up; Michoacán.

Being able to transmit this immense love in each garment is what makes our hearts beat stronger and stronger."