Artefakto: Authentic Mexican Hand-Crafted Items

At Artefakto in Sayulita, one can find beautiful, hand-crafted items coming straight from the authentic heart of Mexico. Whether you are looking for something for your home or as a gift for a friend or loved one, this store has an amazing selection of items that have been carefully selected by the owner, Stephen Dabrowski. 

Stephen, you grew up in Mexico City. Did growing up in such a culturally rich environment spark your interest in indigenous arts and crafts?

Living in a city like Mexico City definitely contributed to my interest. At an early age, I traveled around the city with my mother, who was a commercial interior designer. She was constantly running around to meet with art dealers, visiting with her carpenter, or heading to the flea markets on the weekends. I started a mask collection when I was 14. I would attribute that to her work and passions.

Why did you choose Sayulita to be your home and the base for Artefakto?

I think Sayulita chose me. My wife, Debbie de la Cueva, opened up her jewelry boutique here in Sayulita (Debbie de la Cueva Jewelry) and then I got to thinking, well why not do what you love? Why not get into acquiring old pots and textiles and indigenous handcrafts representative of the collection of books I’ve owned for years? I was able to ease into the business thanks to Hana Waxman, a friend and longtime interior designer in Sayulita and Punta Mita. She had a beautiful little shop called Yemaya and invited me to place a nice arsenal of products alongside hers. After a few years, I was able to open Artefakto a few blocks down the road.

What items can we expect to find in Artefakto?

Shoppers can expect to find an assortment of textiles from the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Hidalgo made into pillow shams and tapestries. We carry wool carpets made with vegetable dyes, hammocks from the Yucatan, traditional mezcal from Zacatecas and Durango, antique pottery from Puebla, and mesquite troughs from Guanajuato, to name a few things!

It is often said that every dollar we spend as a consumer is a powerful voice. An investment. By buying a unique, hand-crafted item at Artefakto, what do we truly invest in?

The shopper will invariably be investing in the Mexico they love. It’s really the indigenous communities throughout the entire country that have made Mexico what it is today. Mexico's colors, flavors, and beauty are thanks to the native people who have been weaving, sculpting, and painting their heritage and identity for thousands of years. The end user's investment keeps these various art forms alive.

Stephen, most of the products in Artefakto seem to have an interesting story behind them. For example, the beautiful hammocks. Where and how are they being made?

The more expensive line of hammocks are produced in Euan, Yucatán, made of bow string hemp (sansevieria). The plant is collected in the wild, combed with an abrasive metal brush, laid out to dry, and finally twisted into fine lines of string. The hammock can then be elaborated from that point forward. It’s quite the process, and it surely shows in the end product of these beautiful hammocks!

Where can we find you?

You can find Artefakto on Plaza Agora at Calle Delfin #15, Sayulita.

Mexico Telephone:+52-329-3803 Mexico Cell: +52-1-322 227 2044