A jewelry designer's journey from Bangkok markets to Mexican cartels, and the artisans caught in between.

A Sourcing Trip I Could Not Have Imagined

The busy streets of Taxco, Mexico's famous silver city, changed in just a few days. Usually, these streets were full of tourists visiting the Tianguis weekend silver market, bargaining with artisans over silver jewelry prices. Now, they were empty. Everyone was hiding inside. I hadn't expected this when I arrived only days earlier to develop our new sterling silver collection. For 15 years, I'd sourced our jewelry from the peaceful markets in Thailand without incident, but this year, I wanted to try something new, and Taxco—which has been making silver jewelry for over 450 years—seemed perfect.

I had visited the town four months earlier to find new artisans who could help create some new designs. This return trip was meant to deepen those relationships and create something extraordinary for our customers. Instead, I found myself witnessing a community caught in the crossfire of cartel violence. Bus drivers were gunned down. A shopkeeper was killed. Three medical students were kidnapped. The vibrant city I'd fallen in love with only months before was quickly becoming a ghost town, and the artisans I'd come to work with faced incredible challenges as tourism completely evaporated.

The subtle signs of cartel presence had always been there—armed men in Jeeps patrolling the cobblestone streets—but nothing had prepared me for witnessing how this brutality could shatter an entire community. What began as an exciting new chapter for FILOSOPHY Jewelry transformed into a profound lesson about privilege, responsibility, and the true meaning of ethical sourcing.

The Effects Violence Has on Local Communities

During my first visit to Taxco, I was introduced to a silversmith through a chance encounter with a man at an open-air restaurant tucked away in the town's winding back streets. What began as a casual conversation four months ago blossomed into a deep friendship as we spent countless days exploring the colonial town and surrounding areas together. Now, watching him struggle to support his children amid escalating violence tore at my heart. The entire community lived in fear, with work opportunities dwindling and families surviving day to day. As perhaps his only connection to financial help, I felt an overwhelming responsibility to do something.

I proposed a solution: we could travel to San Miguel de Allende, known for its abundant job opportunities and protected tourist areas. I offered to cover our accommodation and meals, hoping to give him a chance to make some money and potentially find a new place to live.

We chose to depart at first light, hoping to avoid any encounters along the long stretch of highway between Taxco and San Miguel de Allende. As a safety precaution, I carefully distributed my money throughout my belongings—tucking larger bills into my sports bra and hidden compartments in my backpack. I also prepared several small wallets containing modest amounts in both pesos and dollars, along with a copy of my passport, in case we were stopped and pressured to pay our way through checkpoints.

Initially, San Miguel de Allende offered promise. We explored its cobblestone streets, spoke with locals about housing and employment, and felt hopeful. Then, on our fourth day, everything changed. A text message shattered our sense of security. My friend, who had previously been coerced into selling properties for one cartel, received demands for loyalty from their rivals. They threatened his life and his son's abduction if he refused.

The American Passport: A Golden Ticket I Never Knew I Had

The text messages were shocking. As an American, this sort of thing is only seen in the movies. But this was no movie. He decided to seek refuge with relatives in another city and arrange for his son's safety. I would take a bus to Mexico City and fly home immediately because I didn’t feel safe. Unlike in America, where we can call the police and report threats like this, in Mexico, there is no one to call. Most of the police and government officials are owned by the cartel.

In the quiet solitude of my room, the weight of my American passport suddenly felt heavy with meaning. Being an American citizen wasn't just about nationality—it represented freedoms, rights, and protections that some people only dream of. The privilege to live without constant fear and to have the resources to escape most dangers were privileges I was born into, and that reality hit me hard.

What was meant to be a month-long adventure in Mexico ended abruptly after 10 days, but it transformed me on a deeper level. The stark reality of economic disparities hit home when violence disrupted not just my plans but an entire community's livelihood. While I could simply book a flight home, the community faced incredible challenges to support their families when tourism suddenly vanished, and buyers like me stopped visiting for fear of being kidnapped.

The world is no longer just my playground for sourcing unique jewelry; it's a complex web where business decisions directly impact families' abilities to thrive. Every purchase order I place isn't just a transaction—it's a commitment to support the artisans whom I have come to know and deeply care about.

Your Purchase, Their Future: The Real Power of Conscious Shopping

When you choose FILOSOPHY jewelry today, you're not just wearing a beautiful piece—you're participating in a movement that supports artisans working to build better lives for their families. Each purchase helps maintain a craft that has been passed down through generations while providing stable income that allows these talented artisans to remain in their communities, doing their work safely and securely.

We are committed to working directly with artisans, paying fair wages, and maintaining long-term relationships that help stabilize families. Your choice to wear FILOSOPHY jewelry extends beyond personal adornment—it's a conscious decision to support ethical craftsmanship and the remarkable artists who create these treasures.

Together, we can help artisans from countries less fortunate than ours live with some sense of security. Every piece of jewelry is handmade by real people with lives so different from our own it's hard to imagine. This jewelry is not just an accessory but evidence of resilience, hope, and the power that conscious purchasing has to create positive change in the world.