Commissioned for Disonancia Mexicana, Cudssaa is a sarape born from the intention to create a space for dialogue and reflection among three generations of artisans from Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca — a community with whom Bi Yuu has collaborated for over a decade. Here, design serves not as the end but as the means.

The project unfolded through a series of generative activities — interviews, drawings, collages, family photo research, and curated playlists — inviting participants to contemplate what it means to be Zapotec today. In this almost existential reflection, artisans from Teotitlán del Valle explored how they see themselves as Mexicans and Zapotecs and how these identities have evolved across generations. They acknowledged how forces like globalization and technology have enriched, reshaped, or sometimes diluted the traditions and customs of their community.

Through collective dialogue, it became clear that weaving remains a powerful symbol of identity for the older generations of Teotitlán. In contrast, the youth honor their Zapotec roots through a different lens—one not necessarily tied to the craft of pedal loom weaving. They embrace community and unity but also champion individuality, a value that has grown stronger among the younger generation.

Historically, pedal loom weaving was reserved for making blankets and sarapes. While exploring the photographic archives of artisans Jesús Sosa and Lorenzo Bautista, images of their grandparents surfaced, inspiring the creation of a sarape — a symbol of protection and a reflection of both collective and individual identity.