Paquetes is a monthly subscription box that helps people connect to the Mexican culture. Each month, the box focuses on different towns in Mexico, bringing unique items from those towns and teaches people how to make them, all with the help of curators who know a thing or two about the area.

 

This particular box that I created focuses on the chicle art and guava rolls from the town of Talpa de Allende in Jalisco, Mexico, the place my abuela grew up.

 

This project was created out of the desire to learn more about my family’s heritage.  Growing up, I’ve always identified myself as a Hispanic, but I grew up heavily immersed by the American culture. But the rare visits we got from my abuelos from Tijuana, Mexico or the family trips we took to see them reminded me of where we come from. It wasn’t until I went to college and was away from home that I found myself wanting to learn more about my family’s culture. That desire is what helped to spark the creation of Paquetes.

Everything you see, besides the glass jars, were made by me from scratch, turning flat sheets of cardboard and paper to the boxes and package you see.  I drew all of the illustrations that are seen throughout this project using graphite pencils and edited them to make them look bright and colorful.