Libia Moreno

COFOUNDER, COLORINDIO

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

Libia is the cofounder of Colorindio, a Mexican textile company that works with over 150 women in the traditional weaving communities of Chiapas and Oaxaca. Their textiles are hand-woven using back strap and pedal looms.

Libia hosts a private textile shopping experience for our groups, and she is regularly sought after by our travelers for home decor and fashion advice. She’s also one of the kindest and most stylish women we know in Mexico City!

Follow Colorindio here.

1. HOW DID YOU BEGIN COLORINDIO? WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST MOTIVATING FACTOR?

Well, Paulina was the true creator of Colorindio (she is my sensei in a kind of way). She had been working with artisans in Mexico for many years, and several years ago I was traveling, not really sure of what I wanted to do, so I contacted her to see if we could try to do something together related to the work she had already been doing. One month later, we started this wonderful journey of learning about Mexico and its textiles, and since then the motivating factor has been keeping up the relationships with the women she knew and growing the net of female artisans so we can always have better products and better quality.

2. HOW DOES COLORINDIO AUGMENT THE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE OF WOMEN IN MEXICO? HOW DO THESE WOMEN INSPIRE OR CONTRIBUTE TO THE STYLE OF COLORINDIO’S TEXTILES?

One of the principles of Colorindio is that we always offer work to the women we employ, even if we are not selling at any particular time. Our promise to them is that their income will be stable, and the work will come month after month so their livelihood can stay constant. We see our company as being symbiotic with the women artisans we work with, every one of us has something to learn from each other. They are all wonderful textile creators, and we try to give them the tools and materials so they can make beauty. At that point, we simply try to be the vessel through which the world can see the magic within every piece.

3. DO YOU CREATE ANY ART YOURSELF? IF SO, WHAT KIND? IF NOT, WHAT DO YOU DO TO EXPLORE YOUR OWN CREATIVITY?

Not really, I have tried learning the looms and some knitting but I’ve never successfully made something out of it! Something that I do love to do is walk around downtowns (in any city in the world). I love noticing what they are selling, the way markets are organized, seeing all the colors… this is what keeps my mind running.

4. WHY DOES COLORINDIO PROMOTE ARTISTRY IN TEXTILE-MAKING AS OPPOSED TO ANY OTHER ART FORM?

I guess this art form is what we know best. I am a textiles designer, and because Mexico has such a wealth of art to offer, if you want to do something right I believe you should concentrate on and develop your passions.

5. WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL FAVORITE DESIGN AND WHY?

My favorite design… Difficult, but I will say that the Dandy Rug is one of my favorites.

(Check out Colorindio here to see Libia’s favorite design!)

6. WHAT IS A PIECE OF ADVICE THAT HAS ALWAYS STUCK WITH YOU?

It’s more like words that have stuck in my head since my grandfather imparted them on me: Honesty, loyalty and gratitude. I always remember to stick to these values in everything I do.