Mexico Boutique Hotels’ SHOPShot: La Boutique @ Las Alamandas

Glass and tin stands showcase beaded Huichol jewelry.

When owner Isabel Goldsmith-Patiño conceived of Las Alamandas, she wanted Mexico to permeate every corner of her exclusive retreat—its aromas, its colors, its ancestral and organic foods, its architecture and, of course, its magnificent landscapes. Visitors to this upscale Costalegre hotel will confirm that got her desire, even down to the objects in the hotel boutique.

Here, guests looking to shop the best of Mexico will find on exhibit a selection of handicrafts, paper products, artwork and jewelry culled from states such as Michoacán, Jalisco, Yucatán and Oaxaca. Think hand-carved wooden figures, exquisitely beaded in the Huichol tradition; papier maché creatures; and colorful embroidered pictures, hand sewn with over a million stitches…

This is Mexico shopping at its best—seasoned with a healthy dash of international souvenirs. Mixed in amongst the Mexican treasures, browsers will also find a variety of articles from such far flung places as Morocco, Brazil, France, India and more.

Brightly colored displays echo the shades of Mexico.

Santa Clara del Cobre – The Ultimate Copper Experience

Image from www.theartofmexico.com

Mexico City resident Joy Victory recently visited the artisan town of Santa Clara del Cobre (in the State of Michoacan) and wrote about it in a post called ‘Just call me a Copper Snob’.

Read here.

Mexico Boutique Hotels’ SHOPShot: La Galería @ Hacienda de los Santos

La Galería @ Hacienda de los Santos

Wonderful things happen to those who stray from the beaten path. Case in point: Hacienda de los Santos, an exquisitely restored hacienda tucked away in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains in the town of Alamos. Should you be so lucky as to find yourself walking down one of its gorgeous hallways, you might find yourself on the way to coffee at the Agave Restaurant. Apart from the beautiful murals of, yes, agaves, on the walls, you’ll also find an entire wall dedicated to built-in cases filled with sterling silver jewelry. This is La Galería, The Gallery, a display of some of the finest silver in all the land—with a sprinkling of oil paintings thrown in for good measure.

A large section is devoted to the “Vintage Collection”, in which we sell Mexican jewelry from the 30′s and 40′s. The cabinets also hold a

Julio Pagliani Cross

treasure-trove of hand-picked pieces from hand-picked artists such as Julio Pagliani, Lacey Waddell and the divine Emilia Castillo, the most famous Mexican silversmith living today. A blend of the traditional and the very avant garde, it is said that if you own a piece of her jewelry, you own a treasure of Mexico.

Emilia Castillo Alabaster & Silver Bowl

La Galería, though, isn’t limited to the Agave. Throughout the hacienda you’ll find strategically placed cabinets showcasing Emilia and her contemporaries, more in a small room off of the reception area and along the walls of the tunnel joining two of the mansions. Like everything else about Hacienda de los Santos, it’s all a reflection of its sense of place: Alamos has been a silver village since the 1680′s.  In fact, the Pan American Silver Mines have reopened here and are a boost to the economy.

Information about the silversmiths, as well as prices, are presented along with the pieces, so you can see the pedigree of your favorite new necklace before you buy it. All you have to do is check in with the concierge or the reception desk, and they will open the cabinet of your choice.

Lacey Frida Pendant

Emilia Castillo Bird Bath

Lacey Colossal Muertos Cross

Mexico Boutique Hotels’ SHOPShot: TheShop@CONDESAdf

Mexico City’s Condesa neighborhood stays high on trendsetter’s lists with its collection of hip eateries and cafés (insiders sometimes call it la Fondesa, referring to its many small restaurants)—and there’s no doubt the urbane CONDESAdf hotel has heavily contributed to the resident chic.

Tucked away in the hotel’s stylish aqua and white interior, TheShop@CONDESAdf lays out a carefully edited selection of unique objets such as Converse tennis shoes hand-painted by artisans from Oaxaca, ceramic and silver jewelry by Provartemex, and crystal rings by Oshi.

Stop in before rooftop cocktails—you’ll need all of your willpower to walk away with just one bag!

Isabella Camil and Dominika Paleta check out the bling.