One plus one is three (but don't forget plan B)

I’m only in Mexico for a short time, so we’re trying to get as much new experiments with the material done as possible, but with craftsmen that can be a challenge. They work when it suits them and decide their own tempo, so even if you’ve made an appointment it’s taken quite flexibly and you can’t always be sure what to expect. Luckily this lesson was learned early when we were just starting Anudando a year and a half ago, so now we always have a plan B for when something doesn’t go as planned. 

So we were a bit disappointed, but not too surprised when we turned up at Don Tito’s (one of the weavers) with yarns in new color combinations and designs we wanted to try out with him, to find there was no warp on his loom. We discussed our plans with him and agreed to come back in two days and made use of our time in another way. But when we came back it was worth it. Don Tito was ready and liked the colors we brought and he was weaving away on our new sample in no time. 

It’s important to us to let the people who produce our products play a role in the design process. I try to make sure my designs are clear, but not too precise, so the craftsmen can interpret them in their own way. We set a few specific requirements, but other than that, we leave it up to them to control the outcomes. So while he was weaving we discussed my designs for patterns with Don Tito, and he started applying some wonderful techniques to create texture in the fabric. It’s an amazing experience to see in real time what happens when we combine our expertise and create something greater than either of us could have on our own.