The History of Mexican Weavings
The history of the indigenous people of Mexico is memorialized in their arts and crafts. Native dress and costumes show the ancestral lines of Mayan descendants as well as the 60 or more indigenous groups of people. The art of weaving is dying out in some villages in the countryside as young people adopt the Western look of jeans and t-shirts while spurning the colorful native costumes. However, there are villages where girls as young as 12 learn the native craft. In Altepexi Puebla, a huipil (blouse) that is heavily embroidered would be created and given to young brides to help them remember their heritage. This tradition continues today.
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History
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Legend has it that when the world began, the Goddess of the Moon taught women the art of weaving and brocade designs. Out of this teaching came the sacred designs that adorn painted murals, vases, carved stone reliefs and religious robes. Today the ceremonial garments celebrate these sacred designs. The Maya still speak the ancient languages of Tzotzil and Tzeltal where they live in the Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. In many villages, the women continue to practice the sacred art of weaving brocade in their huts by day. The weaving process, even the tools used in the process, are considered holy. Each village creates unique designs that strengthen this communal solidarity and belief system. Villagers believe their designs sustain their world.
Types
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The Maya living in Chiapas, Mexico, were influenced by Europeans and Pre-Colombians who lived among them. Aztec influences from the 16th century could be seen by the square blocks on the chest and knotted tassels on the bodice. While the Aztecs abandoned their styles, they live on in Mayan sashes and huipils modeled after their fashion.
At the end of the colonial period, the foot loom made it possible to make fabric for women's skirts. The foot loom is still in use in parts of the country today. The nuns introduced 17th century embroidery patterns to the women. These patterns are still in use today by the Zoques in Ocozocuautla. The Tzotzil of El Bosque became skilled in cross-stitch embroidery around 1930 but this technique was not learned by near neighbors, the Tzeltal women of Chilon, until much later.
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Inspiration
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The Maya are a mystical people and receive inspiration directly from their dreams. Improvement in economic conditions made it possible to create more complicated designs in the ancient tradition of Classic Maya Art. The women of Tenejapa did not know how to weave brocade. The patron saint of Tenejapa weavers, Santa Lucia, appeared to several women of the village requesting them to create brocade huipil. Eager to obey, these women traveled to San Andres Larrainzar and San Pedro Chenalho to learn to weave brocade. These master craftswomen were soon designing their own patterns for their shawls and huipils.
Modern Weaving
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In 2010, native weaving and fabric is more commercial, although many women continue to create native costumes. Exports are made in the States of Mexico, Puebla, Jalisco, Aguascalientes and more. Since 1993 and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) made exports easily available in the United States and Canada, the Mexican textile industry has grown. Exports to the United States of fiber, yarns, cords and fabrics in cotton, jute sisal and coconut, acetate, nylon, polyester, acrylic and polypropylene make Mexico the third-largest supplier behind Canada and Japan. Mexico also exports textiles to South Korea, Canada, Colombia and Guatemala.
Investment
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According to the Mexican Textile Chamber, the Mexican textile Industry has invested more than $1.7 billion in the modernization and expansion of the textile industry since 1997. The textile industry is situated in northeast and central Mexico and mainly exports blue denim, non-woven fibers, carpets of man-made fabrics, woven cotton fabrics and corduroy.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit artesanias image by Norberto Lauria from Fotolia.com
