Valladolid artisans face troubles due to low sales

VALLADOLID — The Yucatecan craftswomen who work in the Zací Handicraft Market are an example of dedication due to their organization that has turned them into the principal economical providers of their family and a sample of how the local artisans succeed with their skills.

Although the sale of their products has ups and downs according to the season of the year, artisans work together to maintain the activity of this business.

Nevertheless they said that they are in a difficult situation because they do not reach the necessary sales, in fact they reported that at the moment they are selling approximately one “terno” (Yucatan traditional dress) each month.

Although Valladolid is one of the most visited municipalities in Yucatan, tourists do not purchase traditional clothing, largely due to their high prices, which goes from $800 pesos ($45 USD approxiately) and up to $2,500 pesos ($140 USD).

“Sometimes if the business goes well we sell one or two dresses each month, what we sell most are accessories and some sweaters,” said Maria Cauich.

Also, the making of typical costumes has been a tradition for generations, but they artisans have been forced to modernize in order to have better profits.

“My grandmother forbade us to make those embroidered blouses, because according to her it lacked respect for the typical dress, because it was not the traditional thing, but we didn’t have a choice than to start doing it, it’s what sells the most” she clarified.

For their part, the authorities of the handicraft center charge a fee of one thousand pesos a month to artisans, who sometimes fail to sell enough to pay for it.

The artisans put their total confidence in the recent renovations in the touristic center built by the state government and hope that this will make the enclosure more attractive and cause to arrive more tourists who can buy their products.

Source: yucatanalamano.com