Color From the Garden

Discover the world of Mexican plants and the importance of gardens and green spaces in urban settings. You'll be welcomed into a private rooftop garden in the heart of Condesa, Mexico City. Here you’ll find more than thirty species of native flora, planted to attract pollinators, provide food and medicine, and serve as a living lab for textile and dye experimentation. You'll learn about the history and cultural value of these plants native to the Valley of Mexico — including dye species such as marigold (cempasúchil), pericón, and muicle, used for centuries as pigments for textiles and paints. These plants are living symbols of tradition and ancestral knowledge, a heritage you’ll explore through hands-on learning. You’ll also experiment with natural dyeing and botanical printing on cotton, linen or silk. This experience also offers insight into how locals are rewilding the city and creating green projects that reconnect Mexico City’s residents with its original landscape.

Be immersed in Mexico’s natural, cultural, and craft richness while enjoying the calm of a small and lush rooftop garden with welcoming locals. You’ll discuss the role of urban gardens in rebalancing ecological and human systems, and the need to reconnect with nature’s cycles even within the city’s dense core. Your hosts reveal how these plants carry meaning in Mexico—rooted in tradition, healing practices, and spirituality in daily life. The experience culminates in a small, interactive moment where you’ll create botanical prints and natural dyes, tracing the link between plant, pigment, story, and territory. Alongside the creative process, you’ll enjoy snacks and infusions made from the garden’s medicinal plants. You’ll take home your own floral-printed cloth pouch and handmade notebook—small keepsakes of time spent reconnecting with Mexico’s people and heritage. Most importantly, you’ll enjoy the company and conversation of friendly local hosts who share their world with you.

Clara is a passionate advocate for natural fibers, artisanal processes, and textile self-sufficiency. This dedication led her to create her space in Mexico City, a haberdashery designed to inspire creativity and reconnect makers with traditional craft materials. Every object is carefully curated to spark imagination, from native cottons and handspun silks to handmade papers, natural waxes, wools, and bulk natural dyes—offering an array of things to make things. Clara shares this space with her expert colleague, Mariana, whose curiosity and knowledge enrich every workshop. Together, they foster a welcoming environment where craftsmanship, tradition, and sustainability converge, inspiring others to experiment and reimagine the possibilities of handmade art.

Wear comfortable clothes that you don't mind getting a little dirty - creativity can be messy! Don't worry, Clara will also provide aprons and gloves if needed to keep you extra comfortable during the workshop. Please be aware that the workshop is located in an old CDMX building and access is via a steep staircase.