Meet the Team
.
Bia
Co-Founder
-
I am a Mexican woman with Otomí roots, proud of my country, its customs, traditions, gastronomy and people. This project began with the desire to be able to show to the world a little of Mexico through its colors and textures, and by doing so help families of indigenous origin that for generations have dedicated themselves to the creation of artisan goods. In order to properly value each piece in our homes, we must value all of the time and work that every piece requires, from the creation of the dyes, to the collection of natural primary materials, to the embroidery by loom.
Andy
Co-Founder
-
I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and have spent much of my life pursuing dreams as a writer, filmmaker and photographer. When I came to Mexico at the age of 30, an obsession kick-started within me. I began to take lessons in Spanish, and throughout the lockdowns dreamed of returning.
I met Bia on my very last trip before the pandemic, and we became fast friends, sending each other photos and videos of our respective cultures, and providing each other a source of comfort during the tragedies of Covid. And when I finally returned, immediately we began traveling together - to pueblos mágicos, Oaxaca, Acapulco, and more.
I fell in love with the culture of Mexico, its family focus, and its history stretching back thousands of years. It is a country with an ancient identity, rooted in indigenous mythology, gastronomy, and art. The arte popular of Mexico dazzled me in its complexity, care, and beauty, and felt wildly under-represented in the United States, which still often thinks of Mexico in stereotypes passed down through movies and TV shows intent on showing only deserts, narcos, and violence.
And so, with Bia, we hatched the idea of forming Yocoya, with the hope of showing what we love about Mexico to the world - its vibrancy, profundity, and hand-crafted history.
The creation of Yocoya Mexico
I met Bia on my very last trip before the pandemic, and we became fast friends, sending each other photos and videos of our respective cultures, and providing each other a source of comfort during the tragedies of Covid. And when I finally returned, immediately we began traveling together - to pueblos mágicos, Oaxaca, Acapulco, and more.
I fell in love with the culture of Mexico, its family focus, and its history stretching back thousands of years. It is a country with an ancient identity, rooted in indigenous mythology, gastronomy, and art. The arte popular of Mexico dazzled me in its complexity, care, and beauty, and felt wildly under-represented in the United States, which still often thinks of Mexico in stereotypes passed down through movies and TV shows intent on showing only deserts, narcos, and violence.
And so, with Bia, we hatched the idea of forming Yocoya, with the hope of showing what we love about Mexico to the world - its vibrancy, profundity, and hand-crafted history..
About us
We are a business created with the goal of supporting Mexican artisans through international friendship.
Our desire is to facilitate connections between the Mexican and American markets with the same sense of respect and care that we as friends and cofounders show each other. We want to take people on a journey through the beautiful country of Mexico, recreating the sense of wonder and discovery that led to our own friendship, and highlighting the underseen sights, communities, and hand-made traditions.