The Red Clay Pottery of San Marcos Tlapazola

The villages in the Mexican state of Oaxaca represent the diverse indigenous population and their unique handicrafts. The Zapotec village of San Marcos Tlapazola is reknowned for its red clay pottery. 

The Mateo family women are expert potters still producing every piece by hand. There's not even a pottery wheel to be found. Yet every piece is an exquisite representation of their craft. The women tirelessly handle each step themselves, from mixing the clay, to hand-forming each piece, to firing them in an open kiln. Like our mezcal, they are stewards of an ancient tradition that will be lost if not protected.