Meet the Maker: Cooperativa 1050°
Cooperativa 1050° is a community of artisans that elevate the symbolic, cultural and commercial value of pottery. Through ancient tradition, they expand the economic potential for women artisans in rural communities across Oaxaca and Chiapas.
1050° is the temperature at which tradition and modernity merge to turn mud into beauty.
Cooperativa 1050° is a community of artisans that elevate the symbolic, cultural and commercial value of pottery. At each step, from collecting the earth used to create the clay to firing the finished product, Cooperativa 1050° is caring for the well-being of Earth and Artisans. Through ancient tradition, they expand the economic potential for women artisans in rural communities across Oaxaca and Chiapas.
Through collaborative design strategies and narrative methodologies for community work, Cooperativa 1050° gathers potters together to honor the wisdom of older generations and foster sustainable spaces for individual and collective creativity.
Fall Shared Trade Collection
Our new Fall Shared Trade Collection is here!
Behind every handcrafted product is a story. Created by artisans around the world, this collection celebrates the craftsmanship, creativity, and care that make each piece unique. Through Shared Trade at Thistle Farms, we're honored to connect our community with products that support women's dignity and economic freedom.
As you explore the new collection, we hope you'll discover not only beautiful pieces from Cooperativa 1050°, but the makers and stories behind them.
Amatenango
Amatenango del Valle is a village with an ancient pottery tradition, in the highlands of Chiapas. Esperanza Bautista and her family work diligently to develop new forms and processes, keeping the pottery tradition of their community alive. Amatenango clay has a seductive light gray finish, made with clay from the hills near the village.
The Bautista family follows a careful burnishing process to achieve unsurpassed quality. As they are living objects, time and use can change the tone and texture of the clay. The pieces of this community are baptized in Tseltal, a language still used in the daily life of this village.
Coyotepec
The ancient name of this town is Zaapeche or “cloud where the jaguar hides,” in a variant of Zapotec from the Oaxaca Valley. San Bartolo Coyotepec is one of the most recognized pottery villages in Mexico for its attractive black clay traditionally used, several decades ago, to contain water or drinks. These pots were also used to water plants and wash corn.
This collection has simple and elegant pieces. The silverish shine of these pieces indicates the optimal temperature in the firing, just like the ancestors did. The tone changes as result of the fire dancing inside the kiln, making each piece unique.
Ixtlán
50 years ago Ixtlán de Juárez supplied clay goods to the villages of the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca. The widespread use of cántaros (jugs) to transport water earned its inhabitants the nickname “Cantareros”. With the arrival of plastic and aluminum, pottery production declined dramatically, almost to the point of disappearance. Amelia Aquino was the last traditional potter in the village. She was also a mentor to Rodolfo Pérez, potter and member of the Cooperative.
With innovative proposals, Rodolfo has reinterpreted and kept alive this ancient tradition in Ixtlán. The quality of his pieces is the result of painstaking polishing and experimentation with slips. Additionally, the entire collection is fired in an Improved Traditional Kiln, the second built collectively during the Learning Community of Potters (COMALA) sessions.
What is Shared Trade?
Shared Trade began as an expansion of the mission of Thistle Farms with the belief that justice and healing can happen when women producers are at the center of the global market. Our goal is to support artisan groups for their long-term sustainability and wellness, as we provide resources, connection, and community. Our network includes 44 partners in 28 countries that follow more-than-fair trade principles and commit to the dignity of women who create the products they sell.
Through Shared Trade, we offer more than sales support. We provide partners with learning opportunities, networking, and grants to help them grow. Our partners exchange ideas, share challenges, and support one another—building a strong global network of mission-aligned businesses.
Why It Matters
When you shop from our Shared Trade partners, you’re investing in women’s economic freedom. You're helping artisans build strong businesses, support their families, and contribute to their communities.
As Thistle Farms continues to grow its global partnerships, the message is clear: love knows no borders, and healing can begin anywhere. Through Shared Trade, Thistle Farms is lighting the way for survivors across the globe, creating spaces where women feel seen, heard, and supported. No matter where you are, love heals.
