At Luz y Piedra, some of our most beloved collections are made possible by the work of artisans. Expert people, who have perfected their techniques over time and who bring not only hands, but also history, intuition and an intimate understanding of the material.
For more than five years we have been collaborating with a cooperative of artisans in El Remate, Petén. There, wood is not just raw material: it is legacy. They use fine woods – dense, resistant, with complex veins and unique colors – that grow in our forests. With them we have developed a way of working together that is unlike any manual. It is a language made of sketches, photos on WhatsApp, trial and error, and above all, mutual trust.
Many times I share with them a hand-drawn idea, an intuition. They interpret it, and almost always, from the first try, they capture the essence of what I am looking for. I have also been learning from them: about local species, characteristics of each wood, its uses and limits. It is a shared learning, which has shaped plates, spatulas, spoons, boards and even buttons.
We strive to respect the nature of the material. We do not dye or varnish. We simply sand and polish, to let each grain and color speak for itself. That is why each piece is unique: not only because of its shape, but also because of what wood already was before it became an object.
Over time, some species have become protected due to illegal logging. As our partners are part of a responsible cooperative, all the wood we use has traceability and legal certifications. We have learned to adapt, to work with new woods, to take advantage of scraps and create products on different scales. A button can be born from a small fragment – but still, with a big impact.
Why does this model have a global impact?
Because it rescues an ancestral technique – wood carving – and connects it with contemporary needs. Because it generates a local economy based on collaboration, respect and knowledge. And because it brings people closer to the knowledge that has inhabited this country long before us.
At Luz y Piedra, we believe that design doesn’t have to choose between beauty and ethics. It can be both. And when it is born from local wisdom, its impact goes far beyond the object: it transforms relationships, territories and ways of seeing the world.
— Analuz
