The Mexican city of Valladolid, located in the east of the state of Yucatán, has seen much coming and going since it was officially established in the mid-16th century. Traveller check into hotels for easy access to historical Mayan sites and the cenotes beyond, with ambles through colourful squares and late, balmy nights digesting feasts over tequila tipples. Between cultural excursions and natural wonders, however, there’s much to be said for the artisans in these parts. From crafted perfumes to handmade chocolates, these are the gifts and trinkets to make space for in your luggage.
Coqui Coqui Perfumes
Botanists and perfumers Nicolas Malleville and Francesca Bonato founded their Yucatán-based fragrance line, Coqui Coqui Perfumes, in 2003, creating high-end scents that range from tobacco-infused colognes to neroli bath oils and covetable extra-large room diffusers, all in minimalist packaging that reflects their understated, artisanal aesthetic. Their perfumery sits in a grand 16th-century mansion on Calzada de los Frailes, complete with an interior courtyard. Once a private residence, it is now an apothecary-inspired shop with antique cabinets and walls lined with vintage illustrations of flowers. There’s also a collection of home textiles – some with prints inspired by the original tile flooring of the mansion – as well as fringed hammocks, cotton blankets and travel items including luggage tags, all of which are handmade in Valladolid and the surrounding villages. The duo also run nearby hotel Coqui Coqui Coba Residence and Spa, the design of which takes inspiration from the area’s ancient Mayan ruins and otherworldly cenote pools.
Address: Coqui Coqui Perfumeria, Calz. de Los Frailes 207, Sisal, 97784 Valladolid, Yuc., Mexico
Website: coquicoqui.com
La Troupe
A few doors down from Coqui Coqui Perfumes, an artfully limewashed clothing boutique, La Troupe stocks an edit of natural-velvet kimonos, ultra-fine cotton blouses, and brushed-linen wrap skirts in an earthy palette of beige, turmeric yellow, and chocolate brown, all handmade in Mexico. The brand was founded by three friends from Argentina who moved to the Yucatán Peninsula. They work directly with creative communities in the area for limited edition runs of their bohemian clothing line, as well as home textiles such as cushions, bed throws and tote bags that follow the label’s minimalist, folkloric aesthetic. Designs include the hand-embroidered Huichol snake motif, which appears on shirts and bags, and the stitched fossil shells of the 100-per-cent-linen Nativo collection.
Address: La Troupe Valladolid, Calz. de Los Frailes 213, entre calle 48 y calle 50, Sisal, 97784 Valladolid, Yuc., Mexico
Website: latroupetulum.com
Dutzi Design
Ariane Dutzi of Dutzi Design founded her studio with social responsibility in mind. Accessories, many made from upcycled burlap coffee bags sourced from across the country, are handcrafted in Valladolid and its neighbouring communities. The artisans are trained in the Dutzi Studios workshop but can work from home, and are paid by the item, so they build their craft around their lives.
