City Secrets | The Haciendas with Ariane Dutzi

As the jet setting founder of accessories label Dutzi Designs, Ariane Dutzi?s has made countless jaunts around the world. Her regular route of Paris-NYC-Tulum has distinctly infused her collection with a sophisticated global vibe. Dutzi?s wear-everywhere clutches and totes are a stylish blend of eco-friendly construction and bohemian accents?we especially love her Vintage Burlap Clutch with Suede Fringe. Ariane recently vacationed in the Yucat?n Peninsula, where she stayed in many centuries-old haciendas and culled inspiration for her next collection. Read more about Ariane?s lustworthy trip below!

As the jet setting founder of accessories label Dutzi Designs, Ariane Dutzi?s has made countless jaunts around the world. Her regular route of Paris-NYC-Tulum has distinctly infused her collection with a sophisticated global vibe. Dutzi?s wear-everywhere clutches and totes are a stylish blend of eco-friendly construction and bohemian accents?we especially love her Vintage Burlap Clutch with Suede Fringe. Ariane recently vacationed in the Yucat?n Peninsula, where she stayed in many centuries-old haciendas and culled inspiration for her next collection.  Read more about Ariane?s lustworthy trip below!

 

 

What has been your favorite part of exploring the haciendas in the Yucat?n?

The haciendas themselves fascinates me to see the old and the new in such grand style.  During our travels, we stayed entirely in haciendas, which are now luxury hotels.  They were recently restored back to their old glamour, which made the experience that much more authentic. The Yucat?n was extremely rich 100 years ago because of the production of sisal, a fiber necessary for the production of rope.  These ropes were once essential for the shipping and construction industry, but when plastic was invented, the sisal industry died out.  Everything changed in an instant.  It fascinates me to see how things can shift so rapidly from one moment to another?it?s like a metaphor for life.

 

 

I love to stay in the haciendas?which are now small luxury hotels because you get a sense of how it was in the Yucat?n a century ago.  It?s like time travel; you can feel the glamour, the elegance, and the grandeur. Some of the haciendas were whole villages with a chapel, a school house, houses for their employees, and land?lots of land.  It's just an amazing feeling to drive in the middle of nowhere, and suddenly, a complete new world opens up to you in the middle of the jungle.

 

Will your experience at the haciendas influence your next Dutzi collection?

Definitely!  On a concrete level, I love the colors that dominate the haciendas, and these colors will definitely be a source of inspiration for me for my next collection.  However, this trip influenced me more on a philosophical level.  If you create beauty, the beauty remains despite anything else.  The grandeur, beauty, and peace can't be affected by economic downfall, abandonment, or age?it remains forever.  In fact, it becomes more interesting with time. I am a creator of products and objects, which are timeless classics.

 

Give us an overview of the highlights of your trip.

Empty roads, haciendas, large horizons, jungles, Mayan villages, Mayan people, Mayan ruins, the Gulf of Mexico...in short, tranquility, peace, and quiet?just what my mind needed.  And, of course, the amazing experience of staying in the haciendas. 

 

 

We stayed in 5 different haciendas, which are all spread out in the Yucat?n and in Campeche. Each of them has its own magic. I thought the hacienda in San Jos? was the most intimate.  San Jos? is 30 minutes away from Izamal?Yucat?n?s yellow city?and about an hour from the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, which are one of the 7 Wonders of the Word. 

 

Hacienda San Jos? Cholul
Km. 30 Carr Tixcocob-Euan-Tekanto, Municipio de Tixcocob
Phone- (999) 923 80 89

 

The Hacienda Temzon has the most grandeur and is close to the Mayan ruins of Uxmal.

 

Hacienda Temoz?n Sur
Dom. Conocido s/n Km. 41 Carretera M?rida-Uxmal
Phone- (999) 923 80 89

 

At the Hacienda Santa Rosa I met with a Mayan healer.  He specializes in Mayan herbs and told me all about their benefits?which made me that much more interested in Mayan plants. Campeche was amazing, because the hacienda is right in the old part of town.  Campeche is a charming, colonial town right on the Gulf of Mexico.  The people are extremely friendly and welcoming. 

 

Hacienda Santa Rosa
Km. 90 Antigua Carretera a Campeche, Santa Rosa, Yucat?n
Phone- (999) 923 80 89

 

Finally, I thought that Uayamon had the most magical haciendas.  There, everyone has their own bungalow, so you can escape to total tranquility and privacy.  Uayamon is extremely close to the Mayan ruins of Edzna?what an incredible sight!