Mexican culture goes worldwide
DecodingsAztec history, beautiful beaches, the Day of the Dead, Tex-Mex food, and piñatas … for a long time we were only familiar with clichés about Mexico. Fortunately, our interest in Mexican culture has recently moved beyond those simplistic presumptions.
NellyRodi experts have analyzed how Mexican culture resonates with the interests of consumers around the world. During a press event celebrating the opening of the JaJaJa Taqueria, we gave an exclusive preview presentation of our research on the subject. Now we’d like to share it with you in this article.
Our “10 Trends for 2023” report takes on the topic of the hereafter and the growing curiosity about life after death – themes that are integral to Mexican customs, such as the Day of the Dead. The report’s “Extravaganza” trend explains the popularity of opulent, joyful celebrations, not uncommon in Mexican folklore. Our “The Next Megatrends: 2025 and Beyond” report shares our research on superstition, the search to make life meaningful again, and astrology, all preoccupations of the Mayas and Aztecs a few centuries ago.
If you’d like to know more about our “10 Trends for 2023” and “The Next Megatrends: 2025 and Beyond” reports, contact Claudine Martin (cmartin@nellyrodi.com) to request a presentation for your teams.
FASHION:
Mexico’s Fashion Week, with its army of talented national designers, is rivaling “the big four.”
Carla Fernandez’s eponymous brand is dedicated to preserving the textile heritage of Mexico’s indigenous and mestizo communities, and she collaborates with artisans who are handmade textile specialists. In 2013 she received the Dutch Prince Claus Award* for her ethical, avant-garde, and progressive approach.
Bárbara Sánchez-Kane is a Mexican painter, artist, sculptor, and fashion designer. Known for her political and social engagement, she takes inspiration from her Mexican heritage as well as the stereotypes and social norms used against minorities. Her work also focuses on questions and ideas about gender and identity.
Sisters Julia and Renata Franco are from the Mexican city Guadalajara. They founded their namesake label, Julia y Renata, in 1993. They adhere to slow fashion principles and use an innovative approach to clothing and its construction to create collections that are sculptural, elegant, long lasting, and timeless.
* The Prince Claus Award recognizes artists who have a positive impact on the culture and development of their communities.
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FOOD:
Mexican cuisine has never been so cool!
The Wunderman Thompson report “The Future 100: Trends and Change to Watch in 2023” names annatto as one of the top three ingredients for 2023. The spicy condiment with Aztec origins is commonly used in traditional Mexican cuisine.
Mexican chef Sergio Meza has traveled the world developing his culinary expertise. He uses inspiration from his native culture, his travels, and his wealth of experience to create recipes with Latin American flavors.
Spicy sauces are winning over even the most hesitant palettes. The ones used each season in the “Hot Ones” show can be purchased at sauce-piquante.fr, and the show has even come to French internet where it’s presented by comedian Kyan Khojandi.
Mexican alcohols are also trending. The Barro de Cobre label produces mezcal (a Mexican eau de vie) using artisanal methods and presented in minimalist, apothecary-inspired packaging. And tequila has become an ultra-premium product with soaring prices. It’s in third place in the American spirits market, after vodka and whisky. Even celebrities like Kendall Jenner have gotten involved, and her 818 tequila brand is now exported to the United Kingdom (there’s still the question of cultural appropriation).
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FILM:
Mexywood doesn’t exist (yet), but Mexican cinema is taking Hollywood by storm.
In 2017 the movie “Coco” from Pixar Studios took both children and adults into a fabulous celebration of Mexican culture set during the Day of the Dead. It held fourth place at the box office for animated films and won several awards in 2018 for best animated feature (including an Oscar, Golden Globe, British Academy Film Award, and Kid’s Choice Award) as well as 11 trophies at the Annie Awards.
Alfonso Cuarón is one of the world’s best known Mexican directors. He’s especially admired for such major, successful works as “Gravity” (2013); the best Harry Potter movie, “The Prisoner of Azkaban” (2004); and “Roma” (2018). The later won him a Lion d’Or for best film, the highest award given by the Venice International Film Festival. His new short film “Le Pupille” (2022) is the first movie produced by Disney+ which was nominated for an Oscar for best animated feature at the 95th Oscar ceremonies on 13 March.
Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu (who brought us The Revenant (2015) and Birdman (2014)), produced a new movie, Bardo, in 2022. Completely filmed in Mexico, the story follows Silverio, a journalist whose return to his native land provokes an existential crisis.
At the same Oscars ceremony, Mexican director Guillermo del Toro won an Oscar for best animated feature for “Pinocchio” (2022), a stop-motion masterpiece that takes place in 1930’s fascist Italy.
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DESIGN:
The design studio Mestiz, founded by Mexican designer Daniel Valero, presents brightly colored furnishings rooted in the country’s folklore and culture. Mestiz manufactures with respect for artisanal customs and techniques and collaborates with local artisans for all its projects.
Fabien Cappello is a French designer who, after working in England, Korea, Portugal, and Italy, finally decided to move his eponymous studio to Mexico and settle in Guadalajara. Cappello is fascinated by everyday objects and salvages urban and local artefacts to transform them into brightly colored objets d’art celebrating the design esthetics of Mexican popular culture. Mexico is also a new adopted home for foreigners looking for inspiration.
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