How Women are Sidelining Machismo Culture
Dear Ibu Allies,
Kip Tik was born nine years ago—the brainchild of Margarita López and myself, who met a few years prior. My name is Guillermo Macías and I am a co-founder of the brand which focuses on women artisans in Mexico. Margarita and I worked together on projects with NGOs dedicated to development of the artisanal sector in Mexico. At the end of one of these projects, we joined forces and established an ongoing enterprise, with the idea to promote work and development for more than 300 women artisans with whom we had collaborated over the years.
Our mission is to promote the economic and social development of indigenous and rural communities in Mexico through artisanal design. Kip Tik’s philosophy is innovation of heritage techniques with artisans and designers, while recognizing and respecting timelines, contexts, ideologies, meanings, and cultures. As a lover and passionate advocate of textile work in all its forms, I find working with these communities fascinating.
Margarita — a Tsotsil indigenous woman and artisan, with a strong desire to excel and thrive in a different environment—is deeply committed to her community. She is a brave woman in the face of a highly macho society, proud of her identity in dress and language. Margarita has successfully created a space for herself and other women through artisanal work at Kip Tik.
Machismo is a huge problem in these communities—many women suffer violence daily, making it impossible to work far from home or on projects unrelated to the household. However, it is now proven that women who earn a living through their artisanal craft are significantly less affected, and men are becoming involved in productive dynamics that reduce violence and achieve true gender equity.
Kip Tik has collaborated with Ibu since 2015. For us, their product orders have meant much more than simple commercial transactions. They are like seeds that allow our dreams to flourish and our communities to prosper.
Every time we receive an order from Ibu, we feel immense pride and satisfaction, knowing that behind each product we craft with our hands, there is a story of effort, tradition, and love for our art. Their trust in our work has not only strengthened our local economy but also helped preserve our ancestral traditions.
We are confident that our relationship with Ibu will continue to grow and evolve in the future. Your ongoing commitment to the art and culture of our artisans fills us with hope and motivates us to continue believing in our potential.
Always Grateful,
Guillermo Macías
Co-Founder, Kip Tik
The Kip Tik Team (L to R): Fernanda Garrido, product development & sales; Antonia Ruíz, administrator; Guillermo Macías, co-founder; Margarita López, co-founder & production manager; Carlos Ruíz, operations coordinator.
