Terciopelo Top

Made from natural cotton, woven on a traditional pedal loom, the fabric provides a soft, natural white canvas for the intricate embroidery. The artisans have delicately hand-embroidered terciopelo flowers using the detailed fill stitch technique, adding texture and depth to the design.

A tribute to the flor de terciopelo — the velvet flower that symbolizes comfort, cleansing, and remembrance during Día de los Muertos. Hand-embroidered by artisans in vibrant shades, each stitch honors the warmth of tradition and the beauty found in mourning. The top features three front ties for a secure fit and a flattering peplum style that accentuates the silhouette. 

"We weave our own canvases, and we embroider on them. By acquiring one of our pieces, you are wearing our memory and heritage; we want you to take them with you and show off our traditions; it doesn't matter if you use a classic huanengo or one of our most current proposals; they all represent who are we."

Details

• Made in: Michoacán, Mexico
• Color: White
• Material: Cotton
• Production Time: 4-6 weeks
• Embroidery: Hand-stitched using the intricate fill stitch technique, adding texture and depth to the design.
• Technique: pedal loom & hand embroidery
• Iconography: The embroidery showcases the terciopelo flower, which is most famously associated with Día de los Muertos and symbolizes remembrance and the celebration of life.
• Specification: Natural cotton top is woven on a traditional pedal loom and features hand-embroidered terciopelo flowers delicately placed throughout the front
• Care Instructions: Your garment took weeks of work to be ready and went through many hands, so it must be treated with great respect. It is recommended to wash item by hand, preferably with gentle soap, air dry in the shade away from the sun, and never use the dryer. Finally, we remind you that these are garments to wear with great pride; that is the best way to honor the artisan hands involved.

Size Guide

Artist Technique

The creation of the terciopelo Top is a labor of love, involving meticulous craftsmanship and time-honored techniques. The process begins with one full week of weaving the fabric on a traditional pedal loom. This ancient technique requires skill and precision, as the loom is operated entirely by foot, allowing artisans to create tightly woven, durable fabric while maintaining full control over the design.

Once the fabric is woven, it undergoes a hand-dyeing process using natural dyes. This process, which typically takes five days, can extend to twelve days in humid or wet weather, as natural pigments need time to set and dry properly. Each dye batch is unique, as the natural elements used—like flowers, plants, and minerals—lend their own character to the color.

After dyeing, artisans spend around fifteen days carefully hand-embroidering the fabric using the intricate fill stitch technique. This method allows them to create detailed, textured designs with the terciopelo flowers, ensuring that each stitch adds depth and dimension to the overall look. 

Finally, it takes four days to prepare the garment for finishing, ensuring that every detail is perfect and ready to wear.

Altogether, the production of each top is a time-intensive process, resulting in a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted piece that honors both tradition and artistry.

About Tsanda

Every year in Uruapan, the Feria Artesanal serves as a cornerstone for Michoacán's artisan community, traditionally providing the main source of income for local artisans. However, in 2020, the global pandemic forced the cancellation of this vital event, leaving artisans without a platform to showcase or sell their crafts. It was in response to this challenge that Tsanda was born.

Launched as a non-profit initiative, Tsanda emerged with the mission of supporting artisan families by promoting and selling their handcrafted textiles through social networks. What began as a grassroots effort to restore lost income quickly gained momentum. By September of the same year, the overwhelming support for the project led to the official founding of Tsanda as a brand, with the goal of sharing a piece of Michoacán's rich artisan heritage with the world.

Today, Tsanda has evolved into more than just a marketplace for handmade textiles—it has become a driving force of inspiration, preservation, and respect for Purépecha culture. The project has not only provided a stable source of work for artisans but also fostered economic independence for these families. Currently, 12 artisan families across seven different communities collaborate with Tsanda, and the project continues to grow with a vision of incorporating even more families and integrating a diverse range of traditional textile techniques.

By empowering artisans and celebrating the cultural richness of Michoacán, Tsanda aims to take these extraordinary crafts to all corners of the world, allowing each piece to carry the story of its people and the traditions they cherish.

"Tsanda we are the daughters, mothers, and grandmothers of the Purépecha culture. We reflect our hereditary knowledge of many years of history with each thread and each stitch that we capture in our textiles.

With our embroideries, the light of the family tradition is kept alive; that is why each Tsanda piece is made to be worn with great pride. We feel a deep affection for our roots, the Purépecha culture, and the place where we grew up; Michoacán.

Being able to transmit this immense love in each garment is what makes our hearts beat stronger and stronger."