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Source of Creativity: Mexico With Mercedes Salazar

Side view of woman in white lying in white hammock tracing a tropical leaf on a notebook

Source of Creativity: Mexico With Mercedes Salazar

Mexico: A Country of Color and Endless Inspiration

For her first collaboration with The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, jewelry designer Mercedes Salazar traveled to three distinct destinations—Los Cabos, Mexico City, and the Yucatán Peninsula—to discover the uniquely spectacular sights, smells, and palette of the ancient, mystical country and gather inspiration for her capsule collection.

“Mexico is one of those places that you have to discover by yourself because it has a special story to tell to each soul,” muses Salazar. “It is one of my favorite countries. I’ve spent 24 years traveling to different cities and towns, and every time I go, I feel at home. Magic is everywhere.”

A frequent visitor in search of material and creative fodder, the Bogota, Colombia-based designer feels deeply connected to Mexico having studied here at the very start of her career when she was just 19 years old. Over the past 15 years since, she’s consistently looked to the country’s rich landscapes, textures, and culture for inspiration in her own colorful work.

Woman in long white dress standing on steps of red building with large white archways

During her stay at Opens in a new windowSolaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, Los Cabos, Mercedes found herself drawn to the signature plant life of the seaside desert destination: “I had to stop to admire the cactus in the gardens. Their sizes, shapes, and colors took me to a magical universe. The energy in Solaz was perfect to be with myself, and when that happens I can describe my feelings in little pieces of jewelry.” Her Opens in a new window‘Cactus Magicos’ earrings, carved from lightweight resin with shimmering green crystals and lavender floral accents, are a playful take on the distinctive Cardón cacti common in the region.

Woman in white & red traditional dress walking through a garden area with cacti, trees and rocks

Woman's hand drawing in a notebook next to a box of colored pencils and a plate of fresh fruit

Mercedes’ Mexican explorations also took her to the Yucatán where she found herself as enchanted by the firmly rooted local culture and people she met. “I fell in love with the vegetation and with the way women dress for Día de Los Muertos,” she notes.

Studying the textiles and natural beauty of the Yucatán, Mercedes designed two pairs of her iconic chandelier earrings with birds and flora as key inspirations. The Opens in a new window‘Pajaro de Yucatan’ includes colorful, intricate threadwork influenced by the techniques of local artisans and reflects the elegant plumage of indigenous birdlife. Similarly inspired, the Opens in a new window‘Pajaritos en Cactus’ features two small birds atop a local cactus with a cluster of artisanal resin flowers, colorful tassels and adorned with sparkling crystals.

Side view of woman in white lying in white hammock tracing a tropical leaf on a notebook

While she is a frequent traveler to Mexico City, Mercedes never ceases to be amazed by the vibrant tastes and sights that await travelers at the end of every cobblestoned street and meandering detour. “I love to start the day in the market. During the morning, the market rises in colors,” she enthuses.

During her stay at Opens in a new windowLas Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Mexico City, Mercedes was perfectly situated at the center of the city. Her morning walks through the bustling stalls and sellers compelled Mercedes to design the Opens in a new window‘Cartera Pavo Rojo’—a market-inspired woven cross-body bag with a brightly hued dancing peacock tassel. It’s the perfect piece to bring home the energy of Mexico City’s markets.

The rich colors of Mexican culture, cuisine, and landscape are an endless creative inspiration for Mercedes. “Mexico’s flavors are vanilla, chile, corn, avocado, burned tomatoes, cilantro, and thousands of years of indigenous people cooking for their families,” she says. “It’s a journey where pinks and purples dance with oranges and yellow.”

Opens in a new windowDiscover Mercedes’ full capsule collection.

Woman in a local shop looking through colorful fabrics; arm reaching up grabbing a patterned fabric

A mariachi band playing on colorfully decorated river barge; women sitting on barge watching them

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