Cuentas Silk Necklace Cochineal Red

A necklace made from small balls of silk thread rolled by hand, with occasional flowers made from cut and reassembled silk cocoons. The rich red comes from cochineal, a natural dye traditionally used in Oaxaca. All the silk, including the thread used to assemble the necklace, is produced by Esperanza's family.

Size
One Size

Care
Dry clean only. These silk pieces are sturdier than they appear. Although they can be handwashed, we recommend dry cleaning.

About Silk Cocoons
In 2007, Raúl Cabra began working with a family of silk weavers in San Pedro Cajonos, Oaxaca. Esperanza was sixteen when she joined the Oaxifornia workshop; nearly twenty years later, she continues making necklaces from silk produced entirely by her family. They raise the silkworms, spin the thread by hand, and use natural dyes or leave the silk undyed. Esperanza rolls thread made by her father into small silk balls and transforms broken cocoons, no longer suitable for weaving, into flowers and petals joined with silk thread.

About Oaxifornia
Founded in Oaxaca in 2005 by designer Raúl Cabra, Oaxifornia began as a workshop bringing California College of the Arts students and local artisans together through making. That three-week exchange grew into an ongoing collaboration with artisans and their families, exploring new possibilities for traditional materials and techniques. Rooted in shared knowledge and experimentation, this work eventually gave rise to La Embajada.

About Handmade Pieces
Crafted by hand using techniques passed down through generations of master artisans. Variations in color, texture, and finish are inherent to the process. Each piece is, by nature, one of a kind.