Sierra Madre Network

The Sierra Madre Network is a women-led regional cooperative network in the Sierra Otomí-Tepehua region of Hidalgo, Mexico.

Since 2022, over 80 rural and Indigenous women have joined the network as active collaborators strengthening regional economic autonomy and leadership.

Through PSYDEH’s ongoing training in cooperative approaches to production, commercialization, leadership, and governance, women artisans and entrepreneurs transform traditional embroidery and textile knowledge into sustainable livelihood opportunities— advancing both cultural and community resilience.

PSYDEH Program Objectives

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Personal & cooperative skills building

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Entrepreneurship & business development

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Leadership & governance training

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Market access & strategic partnerships

PSYDEH Program Outcomes

Increased economic autonomy for women

✓ Cooperative Autonomy & Economic Empowerment

Expanded, sustainable market opportunities

✓ Territorial Resilience & Regenerative Development

Stronger cooperatives & greater collective decision-making power

✓ Leadership & Civic Participation

Regional Textile Techniques

Tenango Embroidery Known for its vibrant, hand-embroidered scenes of birds, animals, flowers, and daily life, Tenango embroidery has become an internationally recognized symbol of Mexican folk art. Each piece is stitched by hand, often taking weeks or months to complete, and reflects the creativity, stories, and natural surroundings of the artisan who made it. No two pieces are exactly alike.

Cross-Stitch Embroidery (Punto de Cruz) Cross-stitch has long been a cherished tradition across many communities in the Sierra, where artisans create intricate geometric patterns, floral motifs, and symbolic designs using thousands of carefully placed stitches. Traditionally used on blouses, dresses, table linens, and household textiles, each piece showcases technical precision while preserving designs that have been shared over generations.

Pepenado Embroidery Pepenado is a distinctive embroidery technique unique to parts of central Mexico, including communities in the Sierra Otomí-Tepehua. Using carefully gathered stitches, artisans create richly textured floral and geometric patterns that appear almost woven into the fabric. The technique requires exceptional patience and skill, producing elegant textiles with dimensional designs that celebrate incredibly rich local craftsmanship and shared cultural identity.

Cooperative Products

Cooperatives create handmade embroidery that honors traditional techniques while innovating for contemporary markets.

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Limited edition collections

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Handmade homegoods

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Accessories and gifts

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Custom collaborative pieces

Shop the Sierra Madre Studio

Partner with Artisans

The cooperative network actively collaborates with retailers, designers, fair trade organizations, museums, and socially conscious brands seeking ethically produced textiles with meaningful social impact.

Wholesale & bulk orders

Collaborative design partnerships

Corporate gifting opportunities