About Us
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to inspire the consumer to value the process and learn about the talented artisans who hand weave our textiles in Oaxaca, Mexico. From sustainability standards to environmentally conscious processes, we invest in supporting this traditional craftsmanship by creating modern silhouettes. Recognizing the importance of quality over quantity and the value of the slower process of life.
I created Jaline while living in Mexico, intrigued by the beautiful textiles from Oaxaca I wanted to learn more about their techniques and create a modern feminine beachwear collection. Always taking into account the health of the environment.
- Jaline founder, Jacqueline Lopez
the idea of jaline
The idea for Jaline came about when I was living in Mexico several years ago. Intrigued by the beautiful textiles of Oaxaca, I sought to learn more about the techniques and hoped to create a modern yet feminine beachwear collection. When I finally traveled to Oaxaca, I set out to discover the unique hand-weaving craft. Many of these textiles were made on a simple hand made upright wooden looms. Meeting and speaking with the artisans, I was struck by the dedication and pride that they took in their work. Within these traditional techniques and the openness of the artisans, I saw an opportunity to create something together with them, a collection that showcased their work, embedded in a long history of textiles in this region.
from the beginning
Since 2016, I have been working with the same family of weavers, primarily women who have been learning the technique since they were sixteen years old. Master weavers, Lidia and Sara, shared with me that they had been taught by their uncle from the age of 16 and had been trying to sell the classic huipil in the well known Sunday Market in Tlacolula. I recognized their inherent pride in this work and their deep connection to it. This memorable interaction was just the beginning of our fruitful partnership. We have grown from two to five looms and added several family members to the group of weavers. The environment and working conditions for the artisans are kept to a high ethical standard and in turn we are working to build a community around this business. Jaline has inspired the artisans to think beyond traditional designs, expanding on my vision, looking to the past while creating something with a modern twist.
the process
It takes three days to set up the warp on the loom and approximately one to two weeks to weave 30 yards of material. Depending on the complexity of the design and variation of colors, each artisan prepares their loom to the width of what is required for a dress, pant, skirt, etc. finishing each piece by hand knotting the yarns creating a beautiful macrame design. After the weaving is completed, the products are sewn and finished in our New York City workshop. Keeping our process local Oaxaca - NYC enables us to maintain top quality by having the transparency of knowing who made each piece from beginning to end.
THE QUALITY
Each textile is handwoven on a pedal-loom, a man made machine that is operated by one artisan; skilled with keeping a count of the warp and weft. Depending on the design and intricacy of the piece, they have to mathematically program the rhythm of their feet in coordination with their hands. It is a magical, musical phenomenon that can take up to 2-3 weeks to complete. Each piece is intricately hand knotted showcasing a beautiful macrame finish, a process that requires time and precision.