Introducing Divina Díaz Ángel: A Master Weaver from Huehuetán, Guerrero
At the tender age of eight, Divina Díaz Ángel was already captivated by the art of weaving, unlike her peers who played with conventional dolls. In Huehuetán, a small town in Guerrero with a population of just two thousand, the loom is not merely an occupation but the heartbeat of daily life. Divina recalls watching her mother weave with dedication, trying to dissuade the young girl from meddling with the threads. However, Divina’s curiosity proved stronger.
“Secretly, I would ‘steal’ her threads and do it my way,” Divina recounts with a smile. Her first creation was a tiny blouse for a doll, so well-crafted it was traded for a sack of thread. This marked the beginning of a journey that led Divina to win first place in the 2023 National Textiles and Rebozo Competition. Today, Divina not only embodies the skill of her hometown but also speaks for countless artisans who once felt lost in obscurity.
A New Sanctuary for Living Heritage
Divina’s story found new resonance on December 18, 2025, with the inauguration of Fonart’s newest store. Located at República de Argentina No. 12, known as Casa del Marqués del Apartado, this impressive building in Mexico City’s Historic Center stands right across from the Templo Mayor. According to Claudia Curiel de Icaza, Secretary of Culture, this space aims to be “much more than a sales point; it seeks to be the house of cultural sovereignty and fair trade.”
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, local and federal authorities emphasized that the store’s location in this strategic point was no coincidence. “Placing the most valuable aspects of living heritage at the center is a state policy,” Curiel stated, highlighting that each piece displayed carries a certification combating plagiarism and piracy under the slogan: “Buy Original, Buy Fonart.”
With this opening, Fonart now has four stores in Mexico City and six nationwide. The plan is to chart a path for more locations throughout the upcoming year.
Economic Justice and Recognition
For artisans like Divina and Juan Vázquez Menor, this store alleviates the arduous journey of leaving their communities to market their products. Divina now not only showcases her pieces but also those of her fellow villagers who lack the means to travel to the capital.
Divina insists that the space honors the true worth of the garments. A single piece of waist-loom weaving can take months or even a year to complete, from cultivating and harvesting natural cotton to spinning and intricately counting threads to form iconic patterns. “Many believe it’s expensive, but it’s exclusive work that embodies our lives in every thread,” Divina explains.
The new store’s opening marks a turning point in Mexico’s cultural policy, according to authorities. It’s not just a sales point but an integral project aiming to eliminate haggling, ensuring artisans receive fair and direct payment for their work. The originality certification helps combat piracy and industrial replicas that exploit indigenous knowledge.
Moreover, this space offers artisans advice to enhance their processes and secure a market. “We want this to be a space where living heritage takes center stage,” Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, Secretary of Tourism, emphasized.
The new store, one of the largest alongside the Los Pinos Cultural Complex, features twelve artisanal branches including pottery, ceramics, textiles, glasswork, and woodworking.
Upcoming Stops: A Textile Museum and Global Reach
Fonart’s relaunch in Mexico City’s heart is merely the first step in an ambitious expansion strategy. During the event, it was announced that next year this very venue will host the Textile Museum, a space dedicated to research, documentation, and residency for master artisans nationwide to work and teach their crafts to the next generation.
However, the vision extends beyond national borders. Authorities confirmed that they are already working on a project to internationalize Fonart stores, bringing Mexico’s artisanal wealth to foreign markets under fair trade and origin certification standards.
The ongoing goal is to transform the labor of women like Divina Díaz from Guerrero’s hidden secrets into a symbol of Mexican pride in the world’s leading capitals.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Fonart? Fonart is the National Fund for the Development of Arhandicrafts, a Mexican governmental organization that supports and promotes traditional Mexican crafts.
- Who is Divina Díaz Ángel? Divina Díaz Ángel is a master weaver from Huehuetán, Guerrero, who won first place in the 2023 National Textiles and Rebozo Competition.
- What is the significance of Fonart’s new store? The new Fonart store in Mexico City’s Historic Center aims to be a hub for cultural sovereignty and fair trade, showcasing 12 artisanal branches and combating plagiarism with originality certifications.
- What are Fonart’s future plans? Fonart plans to open more stores nationwide and internationally, while also establishing a Textile Museum in Mexico City to support and preserve traditional crafts.
