Mexican Amuzgo Embroidery Workshop 

November 20, 2026
Friday | 10 a.m.—2 p.m.
Price - 80€ (Material included)
Trainers - Gabina Valentín López (artisan) and Inês Queirós (Founder of the TuYo Foundation)

Description

In this Mexican Amuzgo Embroidery Workshop Discover the delicacy of Randa embroidery, an ancient technique of the Amuzgo people used to sew together and decorate huipiles, the traditional garments of indigenous women in Mexico. 

Gabina Valentín López, a master Amuzga artisan, will share a technique passed down through generations of women in her community. You’ll learn how to create four of the main Randa embroidery stitches: 3-Stitch Randa, Iguana Tooth Randa, 5-Stitch Randa, and Worm Randa, creating a sample of each as you explore the countless creative possibilities of this textile language. 

You’ll work with hand-spun cotton yarns and yarns dyed with natural dyes, using samples of Amuzgo fabric woven on a waist loom and mounted on a wooden frame. Throughout the workshop, you’ll discover how a traditional fabric-joining technique can be transformed into a contemporary creative language, applicable to clothing, home textiles, or artistic projects. 

More than just learning new embroidery stitches, this workshop invites participants to discover a living textile heritage and understand the importance of preserving it. At a time when industrial textiles are increasingly replacing artisanal production, Randa embroidery stands as a testament to the creativity, identity, and knowledge of Amuzga women. 

The Mexican amuzgo embroidery workshop will be taught in Spanish, with translation and guidance in Portuguese by Inês Queirós. 

Program Content

History and cultural context of Randa embroidery;
Traditional tools and materials; 
Preparation of the frame and materials; 
The four main Randa embroidery stitches; 
Contemporary applications of this technique.

Material

Unbleached cotton yarn and yarn dyed with natural dyes; 
Embroidery hoop;
Needles;
Amuzgo fabric samples woven on a waist loom. 

About the TuYo Foundation

Founded in Amsterdam in 2021, the TuYo Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
preservation, revitalization, and promotion of ancestral textile traditions, supporting indigenous communities and
locally through socially and environmentally responsible practices.
His first long-term collaboration took place in Xochistlahuaca, Guerrero (Mexico), where he worked
in close partnership with members of the Amuzga Indigenous community. Through ongoing dialogue with the
In collaboration with local weavers, the Foundation carries out projects that address the needs identified by the weavers themselves
community, promoting cultural continuity, the transmission of knowledge, and livelihoods
sustainable.
The TuYo Foundation believes in a future in which communities connected to the textile industry can thrive through
fair economic opportunities, while preserving cultural identities and knowledge—
ancestral elements that make up its heritage.

About Amuzga Culture

The Amuzgo (Ñomndaa) people of Xochistlahuaca, in the state of Guerrero, are internationally recognized
for preserving one of Mexico's most remarkable living textile traditions. For generations, weaving
It has been practiced primarily by women, who pass down techniques, symbols, and stories of
mothers and grandmothers for younger generations. It can take weeks or even months to create a single piece of fabric
or even up to a year, making each piece of fabric a unique expression of its creator. The woven patterns represent—
nature, ancestral beliefs, personal stories, and the community’s collective memory. In addition to the
Beyond their aesthetic beauty, these textiles constitute a living system of knowledge that continues to play a role
an essential role in the social, spiritual, and economic life of the Amuzgo people.

Waiting List

Cancellations may occur. If the training is sold out and you would like to receive an alert if there are any withdrawals, send an e-mail to workshop@fica-oc.pt, with the subject line 'waiting list—Amuzgo embroidery workshopIf there is a cancellation for this specific workshop, we will let you know.
We don't take reservations for future courses. If you want to find out first-hand about the next month's courses, you can subscribe to our Newsletter.

Cancellation of Registration

IMPORTANT - Cancellation/postponement/refund of registrations (including gift voucher registrations) is only allowed if you give us at least 7 days' notice before the start of the workshop. If you cancel less than 7 days before the start of the workshop, we will do our best to fill your place, however, you can only postpone the workshop (or put the amount in a gift voucher) if your place is filled.

If a trainee fails to attend one or more training sessions, FICA is not responsible for replacing or compensating for that session.
To cancel/admit/refund, send an e-mail to workshop@fica-oc.pt
Find out more at terms and conditions from the website.

No. of trainees

Minimum number: 6pax / Maximum number: 10pax
According to our terms, the training may be canceled if the minimum number of trainees is not met - Find out more at terms and conditions from the website.
Minimum age for participation: 15 years / Accompanied by an adult (two entries): 12 years

Other Workshops

We have other textile workshops in addition to the Embroidery Workshop, such as the Crochet Workshop, the Weaving Workshop and the Tapestry Workshop..
It accompanies the Workshops.

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Photo and text credit: TuYo Foundation