Mexico has officially earned a Guinness World Record for hosting the World’s Largest Embroidery and Textile Exhibition, a historic collective achievement that showcases the country’s cultural, artistic, and tapestry richness through the work of artisans from all 32 states.
The certification was announced at a press conference held at the Los Pinos Cultural Complex by Mexico’s Minister of Tourism, Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, and Minister of Culture, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, who underscored the national and symbolic importance of the milestone.
“This exhibition of the world’s largest embroidery and textile collection is not just a recognition on paper; it is recognition of an entire country. Today, 32 states, along with their tourism and culture departments, have come together to weave a single tapestry, the mosaic of Mexico,” Rodríguez Zamora said.
The head of the Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) emphasized that the Guinness World Record positions Mexico on the global stage as a nation with a living cultural identity deeply rooted in its textile heritage. She noted that the achievement strengthens Mexico’s country brand by highlighting its cultural patrimony and the creative power of its artisan communities.
“Textile wealth is one of the deepest expressions of our identity—it is culture, history, creativity, and national pride,” she stated.
Minister of Culture Claudia Curiel de Icaza described winning the word record as a key moment for Mexico’s cultural policy, recognizing embroidery as a living heritage and one of the country’s oldest and most significant textile expressions.
“Mexico’s diversity is also written in thread,” she said, noting that the designs incorporate floral, geometric, and symbolic motifs that reflect the worldview of Indigenous peoples.
She added that the collaboration between the ministries of Culture and Tourism reflects a shared vision in which tourism is understood not only as a destination, but as identity, memory, and living community.
More than 200 artisans from across the country participated in the exhibition, contributing a total of 3,809 textile pieces created in accordance with Guinness World Records criteria. During the official verification process, 3,106 pieces were counted and certified, securing the world record for Mexico.
Each piece was created on a 15-by-15-centimeter canvas, using threads in more than four colors and ancestral techniques such as pepenado, pedal loom weaving, backstitch, cross-stitch with petatillo, chain stitch, pulled thread work, and filled embroidery, among others.
Guinness World Records adjudicator Alfredo Arista explained that validating the attempt required meeting specific standards, including a minimum of 2,000 pieces and confirmation that each item qualified as a legitimate textile artwork. After specialists reviewed each piece individually, he announced the official count of 3,106 entries.
“As of today, you are officially amazing. Congratulations,” Arista declared.
Rodríguez Zamora stressed that the record belongs not to the federal government, but to the artisans themselves. “This is the result of the work of many hands. My deepest congratulations to all of you. Long live Mexico and long live culture,” she said.
Beyond the world record itself, the exhibition serves as a unique space that brings together embroiderers, artisans, and cultural collectives from every region of the country, fostering appreciation for handmade work, regional identity, and the preservation of ancestral techniques passed down through generations.
The exhibition is open to the public on the ground floor of Casa Miguel Alemán at the Los Pinos Cultural Complex, Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., until February 1. Visitors can experience the vast diversity and mastery of Mexican tapestry, from traditional embroidery to contemporary interpretations, highlighting the talent and creativity of each artisan.
