Born in Tenancingo, State of Mexico on October 14, 1950, Adolfo, or Fito as his friends and family know him, is a third-generation cotton rebozo weaver who traces his roots to his grandfather at the end of the 19th Century.

Fito has specialized in what he calls the “palmeado” design (palm-leaf), a larger scale design which has an air of similarity with diagonal herring-bone designs (as shown in the two photos to the right). The difference, of course, is the warp ikat technique — known locally as jaspe or labor — where hundreds of knots, dyeing, undying and placing on the treadle-loom characterizes this emblematic Mexican shawl.

His apprenticeship began at the age of 8 doing simpler tasks, by 15 he was on the loom and by 17 he was able to buy his first treadle-loom. His dream was to have his own workshop which he was able to buy 20 years ago and he has 5 looms, each one specialized with one of the 10 designs he uses with different color combinations.

Fito's son, Luis García, 27 years old, is also a proud jaspe rebozo weaver. The photo to the left clearly shows the quality of design Fito imparts in his work. (Photo to the left provided by Stephanie Schneiderman of Tia Stephanie Tours.)

Carmen Lopez Sanchez, Fito's wife, works with the women of the outlying villages who do the fringe knotting, giving them ideas for the designs and colors to be used. Fito placed First at a special contest for rebozos with Fonart, where his son, Luis, placed Second. At local Tenancingo contests, three years ago he placed First, and last year Second.

Contact information:

Or contact Marianne Carlson at (01152 from outside Mexico) 376 765 7485 or email mariannecarlson@gmail.com.

(We wish to thank Martha Turok for the use of her photos above right and providing us with the biographic information on Fito)