Habacuc Avendano, head of Cooperativo de Tintoreros de Pinotepa Don Luis in Oaxaca. Only 19 Mixtec males (all live Pinotepa de Don Luis) are registered to legally harvest the Purpura pansa snails' inner liquids, used to dye yarn a deep, vibrant purple.

© Geri Anderson, 2011

Source article: Looms, weavers and the sacred snail on Mexico's Costa Chica