During a summer journey through Mexico, Mariana and Concetta found themselves in a small village outside Oaxaca, visiting the taller—home and studio—of a family of artisans renowned for their barro negro pottery, a tradition with roots stretching back over 2,000 years. On a quiet weekday afternoon, they spent time with Cecilia and María, two sisters who run the workshop together. As they shaped the clay by hand, the sisters spoke openly about their devotion to preserving their craft, and the realities of balancing life as artisans, entrepreneurs, mothers, and sisters.

What was meant to be a brief visit slowly unfolded into something far more meaningful. Long after the workshop gates had closed and the sun had set, the group gathered around an outdoor table, sharing stories and sipping the family’s homemade mezcal, poured into handcrafted black clay mezcaleros. It was an evening rooted in generosity, connection, and mutual respect—one that would stay with Mariana and Concetta long after they returned home.

Deeply moved by this experience, they felt called to carry a piece of that world with them—to honor the hands, stories, and traditions behind the objects that fill our homes. In 2021, they founded P A L O S A N T O as a way to showcase Mexico’s rich artisanal heritage and the beauty of its raw, natural materials.

Creatives at heart, Mariana and Concetta draw inspiration from their travels and their shared passion for thoughtful design. Each piece in the collection is handcrafted by master artisans using ancestral techniques passed down through generations, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. The result is a collection that blurs the line between functional and decorative—objects meant to be lived with, gathered around, and treasured—honoring tradition while embracing the present.