Zapotec weaver Porfirio Gutierrez is as much a cultural ambassador as he is a weaver. He believes that preserving natural dyeing knowledge is tantamount to preserving the customs and health of one's homeland, so he urges fellow weavers and consumers to seek out natural dyes and naturally dyed fabrics whenever possible. He has served in artist mentorship programs around Mexico and regularly teaches dyeing and weaving workshops in both Oaxaca and in his U.S. studio in Ventura, California.