SKY OF COLORS IN MEXICO

In Mexico, there is a town where the sky is not blue, but multicolored. Can you imagine a pink, yellow, or purple sky? In Etzatlán, Jalisco, in the center of the country, it is possible—it is not imagination. When you walk through its streets and look up, a woven “sky of colors” stretches over the downtown streets, making a simple stroll feel like stepping into a work of art.

A suspended tapestry of hexagonal flowers transforms the public space. Covering an area of more than 8,000 square meters, this raffia crochet installation, made from palm leaves, earned the Guinness World Record in 2019 as the largest crocheted piece in the world. The hand-woven work of art covers almost the entire historic center and, in addition to beautifying the landscape, is a collective creation that represents tradition, community, and local pride. It is installed in February, during the carnival season, and again in October, on the occasion of the city's patron saint festivities.

The initiative began with a mother and daughter who started crocheting as a personal exercise to heal the pain in their hearts. What began as a private hobby within the family became a community project that today brings together more than 200 women passionate about textile art, with the support and funding of the local government to cover the cost of materials.

Mexico’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Eduardo Patricio Peña Haller

The “Cielo Tejido” is now an artistic and social expression that strengthens the artisan hands of Etzatlán. Not only does it preserve a tradition that will be passed down from generation to generation, but it also promotes women's empowerment and demonstrates the value of collective work. Its impact goes beyond the visual. It is identity turned into landscape.  

Thanks to the “Woven Sky”, the city has become a cultural and tourist destination. More and more visitors are coming to photograph the colorful ceiling, turning it into a fashion symbol that circulates on social media, attracting tourism and showcasing the richness of Mexican craftsmanship.

Following its success, the project expanded internationally, decorating spaces with crochet at Expo Dubai 2020, Burning Man in Nevada, and events in Milwaukee, Argentina, and Brussels. What began in a small town in Jalisco now travels the world as an expression of Mexican artisan culture. The “Cielo Tejido” demonstrates the power of collective art to redesign public space and transform a community from within, bringing women and tradition together.