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eltallerartepapeloaxaca
El Taller Arte Papel Oaxaca (Mexico)
A cooperative in Oaxaca making contaminant-free paper from renewable, locally sourced ingredients like pochote, ixtle, majahua, coyuchi, and mica. After refurbishing an abandoned hydroelectric plant, Francisco Toledo started the co-op in 1998 as a means of providing local employment and adapting to the available natural resources. Because paper-making is not a local tradition, artisans are taught every step of the process: separating plant fibers, creating a slurry, molding pulp, pressing screens, and embellishments like freehand cutwork and hand burnishing. Since 2002, El Taller Arte Papel has been making our tags, paper packaging, notebooks, and papel picado flags. See also coyuchi; ixtle; mica; pochote; papel picado