If you’ve spent any time in Mexico—and we’re not talking about going to Tijuana for the day—you know how lush and varied the country’s indigenous crafts are. Particularly striking is the art of the Huichol people, whose deep-seated symbolism and intricate beadwork are the inspiration behind this leather, glass and silver bead necklaces.

If you’ve spent any time in Mexico—and we’re not talking about going to Tijuana for the day—you know how lush and varied the country’s indigenous crafts are. Particularly striking is the art of the Huichol people, whose deep-seated symbolism and intricate beadwork are the inspiration behind this leather, glass and silver bead necklaces.

This necklace was designed by Regina Barrios of Ishi, who works with native craftspeople to celebrate her country’s cultural and spiritual richness. Inspired by a traditional Huichol design that’s been updated to be what Barrios refers to as modern-day amulets that “carry the energy of the people who make them.”

The Guajolote necklace (the word is Mexican Spanish for “turkey”) is actually a tiny pouch—perfect, Barrios says, for stashing “little treasures you might find, like a rock or a cherished amulet you want to carry around in a special place.” 

But Barrios doesn’t limit her inspirations to the Huichol. “I get my inspiration from the artisans’ creations, from the materials I find everywhere, from interesting patterns and traditional weaves from Mexico, and sometimes from dreams!” she says.