Handicrafts and Shopping in Mexico

Mexico is a shopper?s wonderland, and thousands travel to Mexico each year to find unique gifts for friends and family. Mexico has it all: from traditional handicrafts to contemporary art, the country is a virtual goldmine when it comes to finding out-of-the-ordinary gifts, and Mexico's outdoor fairs, handicrafts stores and upscale shopping malls provide countless possibilities.

A - Alebrijes: colorful wood or paper mache figures, usually depicting animals real and imaginary. They are usually assembled from a single piece of twig and elaborately decorated.

Amber: Mexican amber, with its magical colors, brilliant finishes and age-old history, is considered the finest in the world, and Chiapas State in the southernmost region of Mexico is the place to find it. Forty-eight different tones can be found in Chiapas amber, used in a variety of forms from jewelry to sculptures. And August is a great time to shop for amber since the picturesque colonial town of San Cristóbal de las Casas hosts an amber expo every year showcasing the work of local artisans.

B ? Bazaar del Sabado: an exclusive open-air art market in the Plaza San Jacinto, the main square of Mexico City?s colonial neighborhood of San Angel, that opens only on Saturdays. Paintings and more economically-priced handicrafts are sold in the adjoining plazas.

C ? La Ciudadela: an extensive crafts market located in the city center in Mexico City, selling everything from masks to hammocks to ceramics, all at excellent prices.

Calaveras: the Mexican culture appears to celebrate death. Skeletons or "calaveras" are a cultural icon of the Mexican people. This attitude has prehispanic roots when human sacrifice was considered a way of venerating and nourishing the Gods which in turn prolonged life. Festive skeletons are available for sale all over Mexico.

D ? Dolls: hand-made dolls or "muñecas" are a specialty from Mexico. In Chihuahua State, the Tarahumara Indians make dolls out of bark and wood, most featuring long, dark hair and bright, colorful dresses. The mountainous logging town of Creel has a large community of Tarahumara Indians and is a great place to shop.

E ? Equipales: traditional furniture dating back to prehispanic times and made of pigskin, willow and cedar wood, woven together with natural fibers. The most beautiful ones can be found in Zacoalco de Torres, a small town located just south of Guadalajara.

F ? Fonart: Mexico?s official handicraft store whose earnings go to fund, purchase, market, promote and support arts and crafts in Mexico. Fonart?s stores carry an amazing variety of handicrafts from all over the country. In Mexico City, Fonart stores can be found at the following locations: Av. Patriotismo 691, Col. Mixcoac, tel. (52-55) 5563-4060, Av. Juárez No. 89, Col. Centro, tel. (52-55) 5521-0171, Av. Paseo de la Reforma No. 116, tel. (52-55) 5328-5000 e. 5423. Locals can be found throughout the country.

G ? Guayabera: a traditional shirt worn by Mexican men and boys, particularly along the coast. The shirt is usually white, intricately embroidered and plaited and made of cotton or linen. Some guayaberas are casual, but others can be extremely formal, fit for the workplace or even a wedding.

H ? Huipil: a traditional woven blouse worn by Mayan women since prehispanic times. The huipil is intricately embroidered with symbolic designs. One of the best places to purchase one is the southeastern state of Chiapas.

I ? Indigenous art: one of the best ways to take a piece of Mexico home is to buy indigenous art and handicrafts directly from the artisans and workshops that produce it. States such as Oaxaca, Chihuahua and Chiapas with the largest indigenous communities feature a wider variety of options.

J ? Jorongo: also known as a "poncho", the jorongo is a rectangular-shaped shawl made of wool or cotton, often featuring designs with indigenous motifs and an opening in the middle for one?s head to pass through. This wardrobe basic has recently enjoyed the limelight in the world of haute couture and is also a great Mexican way of staying warm.

K ? Kurkuvi: the Old God of Fire for the Tarascan Indians, who make a mask in his likeness to dance the famous regional "old men?s dance" (danza de los viejitos). In Mexico, many masks are crafted especially for regional dances, ceremonies or other events.

L ? La Lagunilla: Mexico City?s most colorful flea market, offering everything from antiques to clothing and where bargaining is essential. The market is particularly busy on Sundays. If you can?t find it at La Lagunilla, it doesn?t exist.

M ? Masks: Mexico is a paradise for mask collectors. Seek out reproductions of prehispanic masks and traditional masks crafted by the country?s indigenous groups. The northern Mexican city of Zacatecas, a World Heritage Site, is a great place to start. The Tarahumara community of Creel, in Chihuahua State, is another.

Mercado Libertad (Guadalajara): Mexico?s second-largest city is also home to the largest enclosed market in Latin America: the Mercado Libertad. More than 1,000 vendors sell local blown glass, leather goods and all kinds of local and regional handicrafts.

Mata Ortiz pottery: for travelers interested in finding unique handicrafts, Mata Ortiz is a small village located just an hour?s drive from Casas Grandes in Chihuahua State and famous the world over for its hand-made pottery called Mata Ortiz or Casas Grandes pottery. The artist Juan Quezada is the famous figure behind the proliferation of this unique style of pottery of Paquimé origin, whose pieces have been displayed in art galleries and museums on an international scale. Quezada?s works, along with a myriad of other pieces from local artists are available for viewing and purchase in Mata Ortiz, with prices ranging from U$S 1 to U$S 1000 and higher. Quezada?s pieces are considerably more expensive than those of lesser-known artists. Visit www.mataortiz.com.

N ? Nacimientos (Nativity scenes): Mexico is a popular place to purchase holiday adornments. Entire towns in Mexico are dedicated to producing Christmas decorations for export. Nacimientos made of colored tin, clay or wood are favorites.

O ? Oaxaca: the southern Mexican state home to one of the most unique types of clay pottery found in the world, black clay (barro negro). Most of the black clay artisans are concentrated in the town of San Bartolo Coyotepec, about eight miles south of Oaxaca City. Prehispanic methods for elaboration are still used today, with artisans using a turning post without a wheel. Local artisan Doña Rosa became famous after accidentally discovering that black clay could be polished with a quartz stone, a technique that is still used today.

P ? Papel amate (bark paper): traditional paper is still made in the Otomi village of San Pablito, located in the state of Puebla. Developed by using an ancient technique the cut out figures that represent supernatural forces are popular with collectors and are used by the Otomi shamans during rituals to encourage the growth of crops and cure the sick. Colorful paintings or bookmarks using amate paper are popular, economical gifts.

Polanco: perhaps the trendiest shopping area in Mexico City, the Polanco district features upscale boutiques, art galleries and a variety of eclectic restaurants. The Avenida President Masaryk is Mexico?s Rodeo Drive, featuring Armani, Cartier, Hermes and chic fashion boutiques.

Q ? Patricia Quintana: premier Mexican chef and author whose line of sauces and other products are available in most Mexican supermarkets and food specialty stores.

R ? Rebozo: a woven shawl, one of the most traditional Mexican garments, believed to be inspired by prehispanic costumes and made of cotton or silk, featuring string ends and beautiful designs. Its prominent use among indigenous women makes it one of the most typical national garments in the country. The garment continues to be produced throughout Mexico.

S ? Sanborns: a chain of mini-department stores with branches all over Mexico. The stores combine restaurants or coffee shops with pharmacy, tobacco, pastry, jewelry, electrodomestic, international book/magazine and other departments, making them extremely convenient. Most Sanborns also offer ATMs. The original store is housed within the historic House of Tiles in downtown Mexico City.

T ? Taxco, Tane and Taller de los Ballesteros: three of the best places to buy silver in Mexico. The first is a colonial silver mining town between Mexico City and Acapulco where some of the finest silver treasures, from jewelry to flatware, can be found at bargain prices. If you can?t get to Taxco, the stores Tane (Presidente Masaryk 430 in Polanco and several other locations, tel. 5281-4775) and Talleres de los Ballesteros (Presidente Masaryk 126 in Polanco and several other locations, tel. 5545-1666) feature jewelry and decorative items.

U - Uriarte: one of the most famous factories producing the exclusive talavera ceramics, Puebla State's signature handicraft. Daily tours of the factory are available, with a showroom also located in Mexico City in the upscale Polanco shopping district. Given talavera?s popularity, many cheap imitations exist, but original talavera pieces indicate they are from Puebla and are signed at the base, identifying the workshop that produced them.

V ? Vidrio soplado: hand-blown glass items which can be found all over Mexico but particularly in the town of Tonalá, near Guadalajara. Popular are clear drinking glasses rimmed with bright colors. The best places to buy them are directly at the factories that continue to produce them using traditional methods. These factories usually let tourists sneak a peek at the production process. Carretones, an old-style blown-glass factory and showroom, is located in the heart of Mexico City?s downtown on the street of the same name.

Virgin of Guadalupe: often referred to as the Virgen Morena (browned-skin virgin), the Virgin of Guadalupe is Mexico?s patron saint whose image can be found year-round in virtually every church, cathedral, school, bus, taxi, market and in most homes throughout the country. The virgin?s image can be purchased throughout Mexico on wood carvings, cards, rosaries and in the form of statuettes.

W ? Wall hangings: hand-woven of cotton or wool, wall hangings and rugs from the textile center of Teotitlán del Valle in Oaxaca State are one of Mexico?s most prized handicrafts both within the country and abroad.

X ? Xalapa (or Jalapa): Veracruz State?s capital city, located near some of Mexico?s best coffee-growing region and the perfect place to buy locally-grown beans to brew back home.

Y ? Yarn paintings: shamanic art works by the Huichol Indians in western Mexico which represent personal interpretations of their relationship to the gods.

Z ? Zapatos (shoes): Guadalajara features more than 30 shopping malls and is particularly famous for its footwear. The Galeria del Calzado ("Shoe Gallery") is one of the many shopping malls in Guadalajara, where all 60 locals sell shoes. A wide array of boots can also be found in many colors, styles and skins. Custom-made boots can be ordered, with fancier skins such as ostrich or lizard available for the more extravagant shopper.

Zona Rosa: a major shopping area in Mexico City just off Paseo de la Reforma, famous for its antiques, souvenir shops, cafes and boutiques along the Calle Amberes.