Pachamama Boutique Loves Calling Sayulita Home

Nathalie Mignot, originally from the north of France, but calling Sayulita home for the past 14 years, has been called a gypsy, being born to parents who instilled a love of travel, and having passed that on to her own son and daughter. She is the owner of the colorful, chic, bohemian boutique, Pachamama, named after the goddess who, in certain indigenous cultures, presides over nature, fertility, and sustains life on Earth.

How long have you had Pachamama?

Stores…I’ve always had. Wherever I set my bag, I always put up a little store.

So why Sayulita?

I think the universe was very gentle with me, very nice, and pushed me here. I am grateful for my Sayulita family and this magic place.

What is your inspiration?

The sun, the ocean…I feel like waking up every morning and going to say hello to the sun and the ocean. It makes me shine. Whatever we have in the boutique is colorful and playful, it’s what we wear, even in the ocean.

Are you responsible for all the designs?

I would say everything is part of a dream, and after that, I work it out with some other artist…sewing the clothes, and mostly it’s locally made. But, not everything…some of the paintings are mine, most of the jewelry is mine. The main idea is Dream Big. Whatever I have in the shop, I love and I wear.

What are you known for?

We are very famous for the black pearl, the diamond of the ocean. All my collection is based on that.

What else do you have going on in addition to the boutique?

Again, the universe gave me such a beautiful opportunity. At first we had the shop, and I saw that the roof was empty. I was with my two kids at the time so I put up a tent, and added a toilet and thought everything will be fine. But, it turned out that we loved the view, so we’d sell a necklace, and build another room. Now because my kids have left, and are surfing the waves of the world, I rent their rooms, so it’s like a little Sayulita guesthouse. We also have a gallery next door because we are all artists. Sergio Hernandez, a friend and famous artist from Oaxaca, was a big part of me having this gallery. He gave me all the wood and really inspired me. In fact, we have some of his work displayed there. We also do a lot of little lifestyle videos, which are so real, so simple, and so beautiful, and hopefully serve as inspiration for others.

Any other projects you’re working on?

I’m sad about all the GMO’s and food problems. It’s a big issue and I don’t want to be a part of it anymore, so I’m really into making my own garden. That’s a life project, but whatever I do, I share. We have to know we are the change we want to see. When you start to put your own hands into the Pachamama, you see we are full of magic.

What else?

I would love to see people here in Sayulita and everywhere, become more aware. For me, it’s kind of a game now not to use any plastic. I am really into that. We have to go that way or the earth itself is going to shake us up and say goodbye. The planet is saying take a break and enough is enough. We have been modified, like how seeds have been; our brains have been modified to eat junk and throw junk into the ocean. It is a challenge, even for me. With my own collection, I need to raise my standards, look up where the leather comes from, etc. It’s a full on project to stop harming and damaging the Earth. Again, I want to be the change I want to see.