Mexico City International Airport is home to interesting shopping options, including a FONART shop that features textiles and handicrafts. |
BY MARK CHESNUT
Just because you’re in an airport doesn’t mean you should expect ho-hum airport shopping, predictably generic duty-free and the attendant boring airport gifts. During a recent four-hour layover at Mexico City International Airport’s Terminal 2 (which serves Aeromexico and its Skyteam partners), I found an interesting variety of fun products to browse.
Bizarre stuffed animals from Toalache and other off-beat Mexican gifts are in stock at Design MX, a shop at the Mexico City airport. |
Design MX
This one-of-a-kind shop stocks a curated variety of home décor, gift items and clothing, mostly from Mexican designers. Among the interesting finds: purses made from plastic table cloths (from Sensacional, a design company featured at the MOMA Store in New York), fantastical stuffed animals from Toloache, a company appropriately named after a hallucinogenic preparation made from a plant.
Location: Inside the secure area, in the corridor linking the two concourses.
At the store called El Hijo del Santo, you can pick up all kinds of Lucha Libre gifts. |
El Hijo del Santo
If you know anything about Mexican culture, you’ve heard of El Santo and El Hijo del Santo, two of the best-loved lucha libre wrestlers of all time (El Hijo del Santo is, as his nickname implies, is the son of El Santo). You’ll find El Hijo del Santo’s silver-masked face on every imaginable item, from trendy pillows to hoodies to sneakers. A selection of DVDs makes it easy to complete your collection of his movies.
Location: Outside of the ticketing area, near the food court on the upper level.
Librería Gandhi
This bookstore packs a decent selection of art books and magazines as well as mostly Spanish-language fiction and nonfiction.
Location: Inside the secure area, in the corridor linking the two concourses.
Museo de Arte Popular Shop
Located in Mexico City’s historic district, the Popular Art Museum is dedicated to Mexican handicrafts and folk art. You can pick up a variety of gifts and décor at the museum’s airport gift shop, including ceramics, jewelry, woodwork and clothing.
Location: International departure concourse.
Fonda de Cultura Económica
This government cultural organization operates a number of retail shops, and the outlet at Mexico City’s airport features art, fiction and nonfiction books.
Location: Outside the secure area, on the upper level.
FONART (Fondo Nacional para el Fomento de las Artesanias)
Textiles, figurines and other artesanía are among the attractions at this government-owned shop.
Location: Outside of the ticketing area, near the food court on the upper level.
Librerías Educal
Operated by the Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (Conaculta), a government arts and culture organization, this large bookstore is well stocked with art and literature books, as well as colorful wallets and artistic T-shirts.
Location: Outside of the ticketing area, near the food court on the upper level.
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