Quick guide to buying with your heart (and not only with your eyes) How to know if a handicraft is authentic?
More and more people are looking to fill their homes with objects that have soul, history and meaning. And no wonder: we live surrounded by mass-produced things, so finding a handmade piece that tells a story feels like a breath of fresh air.
But in this same boom of the “handmade”, there are also many imitations. Pieces that look Mexican, but come from factories in another country. Or that are sold as unique, when in fact they were produced by thousands.
At DeCorazón México, we have been working directly with artisans from different regions of the country for years, and we know well that not everything that looks handmade is really handmade.
So, here we share with you a simple guide to: How to know if a handicraft is authentic? when a handicraft is authentic… and when it is not.
Table of Contents
What makes a craft authentic?
An authentic handcrafted piece is not only handmade. It is also born from a traditional technique, from a living culture and from a real person who made it with dedication. It is an object with identity.
It is not only about aesthetics, but also about origin.
5 signs that a piece is truly handcrafted
- The materials tell you where they come from.
- The red clay of San Marcos Tlapazola, the black clay of Oaxaca, the carved wood of copal, the natural dyes of the textiles of Teotitlán… each material has its roots in a region and a trade.
- When you play an authentic piece, you feel its connection to the earth.
- Imperfection is part of its beauty
- No true handcrafted piece is perfectly identical to another. Small variations are the mark of handwork. If something looks “too perfect”, it probably came out of a machine.
- It has technique, not just style
- Real alebrijes, for example, take hours of meticulous carving and painting. They are not made in molds, they are not printed. Techniques such as clay engobe or tenango embroidery have years of history behind them.
- Do you know who made it (and where it came from)?
- A good sign of authenticity is to know the name of the artisan, his community or his workshop. At DeCorazón, each piece has its own story, because we believe that who made it matters as much as the piece itself.
- The place where you buy it also matters
- Many markets and stores sell “Mexican-style” handicrafts that actually come from international factories. If the seller can’t tell you where the piece comes from, or if everything looks the same… hesitate.
Look for projects that work directly with communities, respect fair prices and take the time to tell you the origin of what you buy.
Why is this important?
Because when you choose an authentic piece, you’re not just decorating your space. You are supporting a family, preserving a tradition and giving value to what has soul.
Buying authentic handicrafts is an act of love: to culture, to manual work and to those who keep our roots alive.
At DeCorazon Mexico…
- All our pieces are made by real artisans such as Juan Quezada, Macrina Mateo, Ezequiel Tapia and many more.
- We work directly with them, without intermediaries.
- We value both the object and the story behind it.
Buy with conscience, decorate with identity.
If you want to know more about how our pieces are created,
we invite you to visit our virtual gallery, or write us and schedule a visit.
👉 Discover our authentic pieces at www.decorazonmexico.com
Written by Daniel Velasco Rallo
for DeCorazón México – Where art lives and is shared.
1 How to know if a handicraft is authentic? … and when it is not.
