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12 Years of Yolotli and New Work

11/15/2023

As we approach 2024, I'm celebrating twelve years of YOLOTLI.

If you had asked me back then where I would see myself in a decade I probably would have said that I'd still be working with fibers in one way or another.

Since 2012, I've created a variety of products; clothes, accessories, even sandals, and now fine art. And all while exclusively using natural materials and bringing traditional techniques into a modern and timeless context. I have enjoyed every step of the journey.

With my new body of work I have ventured into a new direction that I am very excited to share.

Over a decade of designing and crafting has naturally lead me to experiment with size and form beyond the usual constraints of patterns and garment construction. My latest pieces challenge the limitations and two-dimensionality of textiles in a different way than garments and accessories. It is freeing to me that these new pieces aren't constrained by the need to fit around a body or serve a practical purpose; instead, they can take on any shape they want to.

I installed my first hand-smocked felt sculpture in June of this year. It was created in close collaboration with Napa Bookmine owner Naomi Chamblin. Inspired by her vision for the bookstore's new forever home and its significance within our community, I created "Just You and Me" - a 14 foot x 6 foot x 3 inch hand-smocked felt sculpture.

In my creative mind, this project has been a long time in the making. After years of sampling, learning and navigating the usual highs and lows of the creative process it finally all came together in this project.

It's safe to say that I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to bring this first piece to life!

After months of planning, figuring out the process and logistics and then finally smocking the felt, "Just You and Me" is now a permanent installation which is prominently displayed above the checkout area at Napa Bookmine.

It can be viewed during regular opening hours [and maybe while sipping on a freshly brewed coffee or tea and a snack from the in-store Café Bookmine].

I was lucky enough to install a few more of these smocked wool sculptures this year and and more will come as I just restocked my felt inventory. I want to invite you to follow along either on Instagram or by signing up to my newsletter.

Thank you for being part of my journey!

Capsule Collection 2020

9/7/2020

Before I release my new work during SF Bay Area Craft Week I want to share more about my process for this year's collection.

Cutting of the Ella Blouse made of vat-dyed Ahimsa silk

My design process often starts with a few fabric choices and textile techniques I want to play with. This year it became clear that my studio time was going to be very limited and I decided I could not work on larger quantities which require a lot of management and frequent commuting to San Francisco.

So I decided to produce everything extremely local [by locally I mean here in Napa, CA and, no, …there is no garment industry in the Wine Country!]. The result is a very limited unique collection.

The beautiful fabrics were lovingly hand-dyed with natural ingredients by Brooke Sinnes of Sincere Sheep and my friend Luisa helped me with some of the simple embroideries.
All the garments were sewn by myself here in my Napa studio and I embroidered the more elaborate designs.

Every piece in this collection is one-of-a-kind and very close to my heart.

The new collection will drop on Wednesday 9/9 during SF Bay Area Craft Week for American Craft Council Members and on Thursday 9/10 for the general public.

Brook Sinnes of Sincere Sheep vat-dyeing the silk

Images by Emma K. Morris

Let's Talk About Wool

1/15/2018

Everyone who knows me knows that I very rarely wear anything that is not made from natural materials. Why would I? There is nothing better than the feel of wool, linen, cotton, silk, etc. on your body. All of these materials are naturally breathable and comfortable to wear.

One of my all-time favorite materials is wool. I use it in many of the garments I make for my collections and some of my accessories. I love its feel, the many variations it comes in [yarn, knits, wovens...] and I love its feel when I work with it and wear it.

It is also a no-brainer when it comes to sustainability. As it is naturally growing hair from sheep it is completely renewable and bio-degradable. But it has more benefits than just that: it is self-regulating to body temperature and thus can be worn in cooler and in warmer climates. A plus is always that is naturally water-resistant and anti-allergenic.

Investing in a well-made wool garment is investing in the future as it can last a lifetime.

photo Emma K. Morris

Products shown in photo Angela Dress + Johnna Tote Pack No. 7

Care
I often tell my clients that my wool garments can easily be washed by hand and in some cases [i.e. my hand-knit hats] they can even be washed in the washing machine on a gentle cycle in cold water and very little detergent [special wool detergent would be best]. But in reality I rarely wash my wool pieces unless I actually manage to stain them which isn't an easy thing to do as any liquid usually pearls off and dirt sits on the surface of the fibers and can easily be wiped off with a damp cloth. The easiest is to air out the garment if necessary. And if you decide to wash it be aware that wet wool has a little bit of a funny smell which is nothing to worry about as it will disappear as soon as the piece is fully dried.

A complete guide on garment care can be found here

California Fire Help

10/18/2017

It's been a devastating time here in the North Bay and our hearts go out to everyone who has lost so much in the recent fires.

It will take time and money to rebuild our beautiful communities so we have decided to join an amazing group of artists and donate a pair of our handmade leather Tres Sandals which can be purchased through the online fundraiser California Fire Help.

Please follow the link and check out all the beautiful handmade items that artists from all over have donated to help rebuild our beautiful communities.

100% of sales will be donated to the Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Relief Fund.

...
After my husband and I left our home and studio with our three dogs last Wednesday, when the forecast for the night ahead of us was merging fires in the close-by hills to the east, north and west of us and lingering fires in the south, we weren't sure what we would come back to. We somewhat prepared our home for the fires and grabbed what we thought was necessary in case our home would burn down. Surrounded by two laptops, cell phones and the TV we closely followed the developments from a tiny hotel room in Davis, an hour north-east of Napa.

It was heartbreaking to see how the flames devoured entire neighborhoods and brave firefighters from all over the country were working tirelessly to safe our homes and businesses. We came back on Friday, exhausted from sleepless nights and consumed by worries about our communities. The air was so hazy and toxic that we decided to leave the valley again. We finally came back on Sunday and since then have mostly been cleaning the toxic ash off our garden and studio and have spent most of our time inside. The air is still toxic and the smell of the fires has been all consuming.

We know we are lucky and that there are so many families and businesses that have to start from zero again. Yes, our communities will work through this but it will take a lot of time and money to rebuild what was destroyed.

Bienvenidos a México - a guide to Mexico City

7/24/2017

Since I've been talking so much about my trips to Mexico City... I finally had a reason to write it all down, thanks to our friends over at Bay Area Made who invited me to share my favorite spots in that beautiful city.
Have you ever thought of planning a trip to Mexico City and didn't know where to start? Well... this is your guide to get a head start and make it a bit less overwhelming.

MUAC - Rafael Lozano-Hemmer - Pseudomatismos

I fell in love with Mexico during a one year study abroad exchange program I attended at Tecnológico de Monterrey, in the north of Mexico, fourteen years ago. A long winter break between semesters gave me the opportunity to pack up my backpack and travel across this huge country and one of our many stops was Mexico City, or D.F. as it used to be called.

Altar Scene in Centro Histórico

Thinking back to a time without proper access to internet, smart phones and Uber I remember feeling overwhelmed. The city felt enormous, but somehow we managed to see a lot in a short week by all methods available: riding the metro, taking peseros (little buses that cost a few pesos and connect to areas of the city where the metro doesn’t go), and hopping in the legendary vocho taxis (old VW bugs).
Since then I’ve visited and traveled the country and the city numerous times, and have lived and worked in Mexico City on different assignments, the last two visits being a five-month residency at the fashion house Carla Fernández.

One of my first stops when in Mexico City is always the Centro Histórico. The historic city center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is one of the most captivating and busiest areas in the city, with street vendors and stores filled with curiosities everywhere. Take the metro directly to the Zócalo, the main square and heart of the city.

From there it is easy to walk everywhere, starting right at the monumental Catedral Metropolitana and the Templo Mayor next door.

The cathedral is breathtaking and I usually step inside just to take a break. From the cathedral it’s just a quick walk over to the partially excavated Templo Mayor, one of the main temples from the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán, now known as Mexico City.

Catedral Metropolitana

Trade in Centro Histórico

Just around the corner from the cathedral is the famous Palacio Nacional, home to the presidential offices and the most famous Diego Rivera murals, which paint the history of Mexico.

A few blocks west from Palacio Nacional, off of 16 de Septiembre on Isabel la Católica, is the Hotel Downtown. Through the enormous wooden doors is a high-end boutique hotel filled with restaurant and stores, and a living wall that spans over three floors. I generally prefer to eat street food when in Mexico but for a sit-down lunch or dinner, Azul Histórico right at the entrance offers beautiful ambience and traditional Mexican cuisine.

Next door is Puntanera, a seafood restaurant with a little store in the entrance area where homemade whole wheat bread and delicious pastries make it impossible to walk by. Find a spicy cold chocolate drink at Que Bo on the second floor and across the courtyard one of my favorite shopping destinations for contemporary Mexican fashion, the Carla Fernández boutique.

Hotel Downtown in Centro Histórico

Carla Fernandez Boutique at Hotel Downtown

Leaving the historic downtown area, I often stroll along Avenida 5 de Mayo towards Palacio de Bellas Artes and take my obligatory photos of the blue and white tiled facade of Casa de los Azulejos, the House of Tiles.

The detailed tiled facade at Casa de los Azulejos

One of my favorite stops in that area is the Museo de Arte Popular, which showcases a big variety of Mexico's folk art and handcrafts, and has a beautiful gift shop right next to the entrance.

See the full city guide here at Bay Area Made

THANK YOU...

7/17/2017

...for a successful Renegade weekend!

We know there are so many talented creative spirits at Renegade so we are extra grateful for everyone who came by, said hi and supported us during this fun summer event!

You all inspire us every day and help us to do what we love to do - making the best products that are long-lasting and comfortable to wear and use.

We will be around for a few more events in the Bay Area later this year. In the meantime, enjoy your summer and see you all soon again!

Hello Summer!

7/6/2017

SS – 17

Photo Emma K. Morris

With our first ever capsule collection SS – 17 we wanted to celebrate our multicultural approach to fashion and bring together the things we most appreciate about the cultures we're constantly immersed in - the minimal, almost rigid and clean lines remind a bit of the German way of living, whereas comfortable fit and chosen materials play off the more laid back West Coast approach to life. As always, our main concern is the long-lasting quality of our garments so you will find nicely finished seams inside and out on all of our pieces.

Blue Skies in the windy Marin Headlands

6/13/2017

Blowing hair, flying clothes and goose bumps pretty much sums up our first photo shoot in the Marin Headlands last weekend. But we had a blast and our amazing photographer Emma K. Morris made sure to capture the essence of our experience and our first ever capsule collection SS-17. Models Alexandra and Christina were keeping their calm in the chilly morning sun and our indispensable assistant [aka my husband Mikey Kelly] made sure we were all nourished and safe. To give you a first glimpse we posted a few images below. More to come soon.......

Photos Emma K. Morris

THANK YOU...

4/3/2017

Thank you all so much for stopping by our booth at Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco this past weekend! We were so excited to show amongst another 300 amazing makers and introduce you to a few new pieces from our handmade spring/summer collection.

We will pop up at a few more events in the Bay Area this year so please stay tuned!

As always, we'll keep you posted with new things hand- and locally made on our Instagram

CONNECTING THE 'OLD WORLD' WITH THE 'NEW WORLD'

1/16/2017

photo credit: Greendaylayovers

It's that time again... a trip to the good old world is on the horizon where I will be reconnecting with my roots, sipping tea and coffee around big and inviting kitchen tables with family and friends and working on some fun new collaborations. I will keep you posted!