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PRATT FASHION / PRATT INSTITUTE
Online guest speaker
A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of hosting an online session with multidisciplinary artist @citlalli.parra, joining us from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, as part of the course Artisans, Textiles, and Designers, a course that is partially taught in Oaxaca, Mexico, by professor @jamesmendolia.nyc
Citlalli’s practice is grounded in traditional ecological knowledge, weaving together contemporary aesthetics, nature-inspired materials, and ancestral techniques. Her work challenges dominant fashion practices by opening conversations about social justice, labor, and globalization, and by honoring the depth of pre-Hispanic knowledge.
She shared her deep interest in natural dyeing and weaving with maguey, pita, and jute, materials deeply rooted in Mexico’s long-standing traditions, especially agave, an emblematic fiber of the country. Working with agave or maguey fiber has led her to develop a profound appreciation for its many uses, its mystical associations, and its cultural and pre-Hispanic significance.
Citlalli has also extended her knowledge of natural and pre-Hispanic pigments with the guidance of chemist and pigment specialist Sara Pineda, through a specialty in her group Malinalcalli, further deepening her commitment to artistic innovation and to preserving Mexico’s cultural heritage. Their work includes pigments extracted from Zacatlaxcalli (Cuscuta tinctoria), maíz morado, and grana cochinilla.
An essential part of her practice is collaborating with artisans. As Citlalli shared, this collaboration has strengthened her purpose: to honor the remarkable skill and ancestral knowledge of master artisans—and of her own ancestors—with deep respect and humility, valuing process, time, and making.
💫We are grateful for her generosity, her knowledge, and the powerful connection she brings between land, craft, and contemporary artistic practice.