Uumbah Arte Mexicano

In Mérida's Santa Lucía neighborhood, Plaza Carmesí gathers three small concept stores under one roof, and Úumbah Arte Mexicano is the one built around the hammock. The shop takes its name from the Maya word for 'to cradle' — an apt choice for a store whose signature pieces are elaborately tasseled hammocks woven by artisans in Yucatán and Campeche.

Beyond hammocks, Úumbah carries fine jewelry, ceramics, and a range of hats and baskets woven from jipijapa, a durable palm that isn't native to the region — it originated in Ecuador and was brought to Yucatán and planted there in the 1800s, where it took hold as a local craft material.

Úumbah shares its address with Miel Nativa Kaban, a honey-focused shop run by bee conservationists, and Basica Sociedad, curated by architect Josefina Larraín. All three stores share a common commitment: everything sold is made in Mexico, with an emphasis on supporting local artisans and fair trade. For visitors shopping the streets near Mérida's Paseo Montejo, it's a compact stop for goods that trace back to named makers and specific regional materials rather than an anonymous supply chain.