MÉRIDA TRAY
SOMOS LAT
In collaboration with Latin American Design Studios; Jazo Romero, Cinco x Cinco, Other Bad Habits, Black Oveja, Narciso Merengo, Kanak Studio, Ernesto Pastore & Isabel Francoy.
Each member of Somos LAT designed a product for the dinner table that become rituals of everyday life, showcasing at Espacio CDMX, for Inédito - Design Week México 2023
Mérida Tray blend the timeless artistry of jipijapa, a material known for its flexibility and strength, with the enduring beauty of stone.
The process begins three years after the Jipijapa is planted, to allow its leaves to achieve their full size. The sprouts are cut so the tender leaves can be removed. Then, the stalks are boiled with sulfur to give it a yellowish-white color and finally left to dry.
Humidity is necessary to keep the plant fibers flexible enough to be easily woven, which is why artisans make them in natural or artificial caves.
Hand-crafted by skilled artisans of Calkiní, Campeche.
Photography / Courtesy of César Castilla
Year / 2023