Craft & Culture: Mexico’s NUDO 6/6 Collective Debuts In Vancouver

This April, Vancouver plays host to something truly special: the global debut of the NUDO 6/6 Collective, a dynamic group of over 750 Indigenous women artisans from Mexico who are reshaping the conversation around fashion, craftsmanship, and cultural preservation.

For the first time ever, these visionary creators—representing the rich textile traditions of Chiapas and Yucatán—will bring their stunning handmade clothing, accessories, and textiles to Canadian soil. Their arrival marks not only a vibrant cultural moment, but a rare opportunity for Vancouverites to connect directly with the artists behind the work through a series of curated events designed to inspire, educate, and celebrate.

A Pop-Up Experience Like No Other

From April 9 to 13, NUDO 6/6 will host a series of live demonstrations, intimate conversations, and a pop-up store across multiple locations in the city, including Latincouver (#301-68 Water Street) and the Museum of Vancouver. These immersive gatherings will showcase the collective’s approach to textile arts—rooted in ancestral knowledge and reimagined through a modern lens.

Guests can shop handcrafted pieces, speak with artisans, and gain an inside look at how centuries-old techniques like backstrap weaving and Xmanikbeen embroidery are being preserved and adapted for today’s design world.

Exhibition & Charity Auction at the Museum of Vancouver

The highlight of the week takes place on April 11 at the Museum of Vancouver with the official opening of Textiles, as a Portrait of a Territory. Running from 3 to 5 p.m., this striking exhibition explores how traditional textiles can serve as living portraits of the communities, landscapes, and histories that inspire them.

The event also features a charity auction, offering guests the chance to bid on one-of-a-kind artisan works. Proceeds from the auction will directly support the women of the NUDO 6/6 Collective, helping fund continued access to fair trade opportunities and cultural preservation initiatives across Indigenous communities in Mexico.

Spotlight on the Artisans

Among the featured artists are remarkable women like Juana López Díaz, a backstrap weaver and community leader from Chiapas who co-founded Juxta, a social enterprise connecting Indigenous artisans with global markets. Also from Chiapas is Tania Beatriz Gómez Vázquez, a Tsotsil embroidery expert known for training other women in design and commercialization.

From Yucatán, Mildre Ramírez, founder of Antalika’a, brings forward the complexity of Mayan embroidery traditions, while Fidelia Abigail Ek Gongora, of Arte Sur, stands as one of the few remaining masters of the rare and intricate Xmanikbeen embroidery.

A Moment on the Runway

Capping off the week, NUDO 6/6 will also appear at Vancouver Fashion Week on April 13 at 6:30 p.m., unveiling a runway collection that brings centuries-old craftsmanship into conversation with contemporary fashion. The show marks a stylish finale to a week that’s all about creative dialogue, cultural respect, and global connection.

More Than Fashion

NUDO 6/6 isn’t just presenting clothing—it’s sharing stories. Each textile is a thread in a larger narrative of identity, resistance, and transformation. And this April, Vancouver becomes the first international stage for this movement of Indigenous women redefining what fashion can be.

To learn more about NUDO 6/6’s Vancouver events or register to attend, visit this page. —Vita Daily