La Loba: A Hidden Gem in Mexico City
In Mexico City’s Historic Centre, you’d be forgiven for spending hours perusing the handicrafts in La Ciudadela (the famous artisan market), stepping into one of the city’s many museums, or soaking up the atmosphere in Alameda Central. After all, half of your TripAdvisor sightseeing list will be within a kilometre radius; but the real beauty of CDMX lies in wandering its sun-soaked streets when you’re between places. The faded paint, weathered stone walls, arched windows and blooming jacarandas are unmistakably Latin American, and most Mexicans are friendly and charming enough to indulge even the clumsiest of Spanish speakers. Sometimes serendipity will lead you straight into local secrets that are so new and/or unknown, they’re not on Google Maps or the internet at all; nothing is quite as rewarding as being one of a few to discover something small and special.
Just around the corner from La Ciudadela, tucked into some narrow arches, is La Loba, a studio and space for upcycling, workshops, vintage clothing and transformed textiles. After an extensive remodelling and refurbishment process completed entirely in-house with the help of friends, the shop finally opened in late February 2020—only to close again a month later as COVID-19 placed most of the world under lockdown. We were fortunate enough to stumble upon it in early March, the blackboard outside catching our eye en route to the Juárez district, and after raiding the racks of ‘60s jackets and ‘70s dresses, the owner Meri kindly showed us around.
Sunlight pours through a newly-covered courtyard and into the workshop space out back, where a giant loom sits, waiting to make something great.
It’s clear from the way Meri talks about the space, the laborious renovation, and La Loba’s future plans, that there’s a lot of love and dedication at the heart of it. The team is small, but already working on styles for the new season: scraps on the table are being transformed into bikinis and lingerie, made to order to ensure the sizing is perfect; and there are dreams of community projects to get consumers involved in the upcycling process.
After the physical space closed its doors owing to COVID, the business switched gears and started sewing reusable face masks, donating them to the most vulnerable in Mexico City. Meri also runs a sewing programme for Central American migrants, supported by DarwinCommunityArts and Singer, to teach them sewing skills and continue to produce masks for those who need them.
La Loba is truly a celebration of craft, passion and philanthropy, and while reopening and regular footfall may not be on the agenda soon, it’s our hope that the business continues to adapt and lend itself where needed—small businesses are under pressure now more than ever, so whether you’re in Mexico City or anywhere else in the world, follow and support your local makers and creators so they can remain a beloved part of your community.
La Loba
Emilio Donde 8A
Centro
Mexico City
Mexico
Monday - Saturday
12:00 - 19:00
(temporarily closed as of 23 March 2020)
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Just around the corner from La Ciudadela, tucked into some narrow arches, is La Loba, a studio and space for upcycling, workshops, vintage clothing and transformed textiles. We were fortunate enough to stumble upon it in early March, and the owner Meri kindly showed us around.