THE 5 MOST OUTSTANDING TYPICAL CRAFTS OF JALISCO - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The typical crafts of Jalisco are characterized by their great variety and the quality of their elaboration. Some examples are the ceramics and pottery of Tlaquepaque, Tonalá, Tuxpan and Talavera de Sayula; and the huaraches of Concepción de Buenos Aires.

Also noteworthy are the works with pita (a cactus fiber) from Colotlán, the glass-blowing creations from Tlaquepaque and Tonalá, and the leatherwork from Zacoalco de Torres.

The artisans of this state stand out for their woolen fabrics called jorongo, cotton fabrics, embroidery and marquetry, among other products.

You may also be interested in the archaeological zones of Jalisco or its traditions.

The 5 main typical crafts of Jalisco

1- Pottery from Tlaquepaque

One of the most recognized crafts in Jalisco is its ceramics. Tlaquepaque, an old colonial town with cobbled streets, has earned the title of "Capital of Craftsmanship" for the quality of its products.

Its hundreds of galleries display and sell the work of its master craftsmen and local artists.

In addition, in the Regional Ceramic Museum you can see the most important ceramic collection in Mexico.

2- Huaraches of Concepción in Buenos Aires

The huaraches of Jalisco are highly valued. They are light and handmade native sandals. This type of footwear is believed to have been worn by the Mayans and Aztecs.

They are made by first cutting a recycled rubber tire or leather sole into the shape of the user's foot.

A long and continuous strip of leather, called a strap, is then woven through holes drilled in the sides of the sole.

Especially in Concepción de Buenos Aires, the intricate weaving on the upper part of the shoes has become an art form through which artisans express their skills and talents.

3- Piteado de Colotlán

The quality and beauty of Colotlán's products have earned it the title of "World Capital of Piteado."

Pita is a fiber that is extracted from a cactus using an indigenous technique: scraping the leaves off a wooden trunk with a blade made from the stem of a palm.

These fibers are washed several times with soap and lemon juice, then brushed to remove impurities and dried in the sun.

At this point, the clean white fibers are meticulously combed and sized.

The saddlers of Colotlán then turn the fibers into thread by twisting sections of fiber around their knees.

Later they hand embroider pieces of leather with pre-Hispanic designs, producing appreciated artisan works such as belts, saddles, boots or purses.

4- Blown glass from Tlaquepaque and Tonalá

Tlaquepaque and Tonalá are distinguished by their blown glass works of art. For example, artisans in Tlaquepaque have for years produced imitations of old Spanish lamps made of sheet metal and colored glass.

The veneer is shaped to create a pendant lamp, with holes cut out to emit light.

The craftsmen then blow colored glass into the solid metal frame, producing these great pieces.

5- Equipments of Zacoalco de Torres

Equipments are rustic leather furniture found everywhere in Mexico and made by hand in many parts of the country.

However, in Zacoalco de Torres the elaboration of this furniture dates back to pre-Hispanic times.

On the shallow beaches of Lake Atotonilco, families make all kinds of equipment, from low and flat seats to those with pedestals.

References

1. Standish, P. (2009). The States of Mexico: A Reference Guide to History and Culture. Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group.
2. Jimenez Gonzalez, VM (2014). Jalisco. Madrid: Solaris Communication.
3. Lynch, A and Strauss, MD (2014). Ethnic Dress in the United States: A Cultural Encyclopedia. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield.
4. Edouard, F. (2004). Pita fiber, embroidery. In C. López Binnqüist, P. Shanley and AC Fantini (editors), Riches of the Forest: Fruits, Remedies, and Handicrafts in Latin America, pp 45-48. Bogor Barat: CIFOR.
5. Anderson, R. and Mitchell, E. (2010). From Folk Art to Modern Design in Ceramics. Indiana: iUniverse.
6. Devlin, W. (2003, February 01). Mexican equiples, seated through the ages Zacoalco de Torres. Retrieved on November 8, 2017, from mexconnect.com.