Paz González Mesa

Biography: Paz worked for years in public administration for the Government of Asturias and at the University of Oviedo. After training in textile crafts as a weaver, she decided to leave her job to dedicate herself full-time to craftsmanship. She describes herself as a textile artisan, loom weaver, and dyer. Her craft is, to a large extent, her life, and her philosophy embraces a way of living connected to the land and the memory of the Asturian people, far removed from contemporary consumerism. She has lived in Puerma for the past 25 years. Before that, she lived in Morcín and Nava, and spent several years searching for a home until she found her current house in the village of Puerma, in the municipality of Las Regueras. She began working with the loom 12 years ago, although not exclusively. As a professional, she has been active for the past three years. She has received numerous awards and recognitions at both the Asturian and national levels for her work and her commitment to textile craftsmanship, sustainability, and the promotion of native products.

Relation to the area incomer

Occupation Crafts person in fibre and textile crafts

After several years of searching for a house in the Asturian countryside, and after living in various municipalities in central Asturias, they found this house in the village of Puerma, where they moved in the year 2000.

Materials Description Paz works exclusively with natural fibers, primarily wool, due to the deep cultural connection she maintains with this material. She also uses linen, a fiber with a long history of textile use in Asturias and a strong link to the land. Additionally, she works with silk, though in smaller quantities. She uses wool from her own flock of xalda sheep—the native breed of Asturias—as well as from other local farmers. However, due to its particular characteristics and rustic texture, xalda wool is not always suitable for certain products, such as scarves. In those cases, she uses merino wool sourced from Extremadura. In her view, xalda wool is more than just a raw material or product; it carries a sentimental and historical connection, with a rich story that ties it to the territory and transcends its material value. For this reason, she strives to bring this wool to market. Nevertheless, she faces many challenges: a scarcity of flocks, low production, limited awareness among farmers—who often see wool as waste—and the demanding work of selection. Moreover, the material itself has limitations due to its rustic nature, which makes it unsuitable for certain uses. As a result, she is exploring new possibilities for its application. She always uses natural fibers for several reasons: they yield better results in weaving and for the end user, and synthetic fibers cannot be dyed with natural dyes, making traditional techniques impossible. For dyeing, she uses plants sourced from her immediate surroundings—her home and nearby areas—as well as plants not native to Asturias, which she obtains through specialized suppliers. The materials she uses are always local and native. Her favorite material to work with is xalda wool. Currently, she is researching what kinds of pieces can be made with it, focusing more on public outreach than commercial production. Her goal is to show society the textile potential of this wool and demonstrate the results it can yield when applied to different products—cushions, shoes, blankets, clothing, etc. She believes this is beneficial both for the breed and for the wool itself. She is even experimenting with its use in upholstery.

Type of involvement full-time paid job