Skip to Content

The Moral Wardrobe: Manos Zapotecas (MZ Fair Trade)

I reached out to Manos Zapotecas to see if I could review one of their handcrafted bags on Style Wise. They lent me this lovely chevron crossbody and I’m probably going to have to buy it now because I love it so much.

The Zapotec are an indigenous people from Mexico whose culture dates back at least 2,500 years. They are credited with creating the first writing system in Mesoamerica and have a long craft tradition in jewelry and textiles. There are currently around 800,000 Zapotec throughout Mexico and the United States.

Manos Zapotecas partners with Zapotec artisans to create beautiful bags with traditional textiles under fair trade guidelines. The bag I received is lined in cotton and has an internal pouch for extra storage. The handwoven exterior is made of 100% wool and the strap is made of soft leather.

Ethical Details: Jacket, Boots, Scarf, Sweater – Thrifted; Bag – Manos Zapotecas

This crossbody is just to my taste. It’s lightweight when empty, thick enough to hold its shape, but soft enough to mold around my body and not get in the way. I’ve been using a Vera Bradley hipster for the past year or so and I’d say this bag feels fairly similar against the body.

Each MZ bag holds an element of discovery, from the significance of each Zapotec
design, to the bold color combinations, and most importantly, of the hands from
which they come. –
Manos Zapotecas

Leah Wise is the founder of StyleWise Blog. She has been writing, speaking, and consulting on sustainable fashion, the fair trade and secondhand supply chain, and digital marketing for over ten years. An Episcopal priest, Leah holds a B.A. in Religion from Florida State University and an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School. When not working, you can find her looking for treasures at the thrift store.

Share this post:

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

L Arriola

Wednesday 26th of August 2015

Nice and colourful design, it really fits you very well. Mexico has a huge amount of hand crafted wears for every ocassion. Dutzi handmade bags is a well known store that makes unique bags with stylish mayan designs.

Hoda Katebi

Tuesday 20th of January 2015

ooh my gosh this bag is so beautiful! And it looks so great with the rest of your look! xx This looks like a great cause I can get behind! <(') Hoda | JooJoo Azad

Julia | Fair for All Guide

Sunday 18th of January 2015

I love Manos Zapotecas! I kept walking by their booth over and over again at the FTF conference last year. Their big duffel bags are my favorite.

Leah Wise

Saturday 17th of January 2015

I know! If I wasn't saving for various trips, I'd have bought it already.

Catherine Kowalik Harper

Friday 16th of January 2015

It's such a beautiful bag and does look like it fits you perfectly!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.