Blouse
| Type: | Clothing - Garment |
|---|---|
| Object Name: | Blouse |
| Local Name: | huipil |
| Place Made: | North America: Central America, Guatemala, Quetzaltenango, San Martin Sacatepequez |
| People: | Mam Maya |
| Period: | Late 20th century |
| Date: | 1950 - 1980 |
| Dimensions: | L 182 cm x W 90 cm |
| Materials: | Cotton |
| Techniques: | Woven; supplementary weft |
| ID Number: | T94.0970 |
| Credit: | From the Opekar / Webster Collection |
The woman’s huipil has a long and ancient tradition in Guatemala and is still worn in parts of the country today. Indigenous garments such as the huipil have roots in pre-Spanish Maya costume, and are often depicted on ceramics and sculpture. A huipil consists of one, two, or three lengths of cotton woven on a back-strap loom and sewn together with an opening for the head. Supplementary weft threads in cotton, silk, rayon and more recently acrylic, are used to float a raised pattern during weaving. Although these rich and varied designs have evolved over time, since the Spanish Conquest, huipil styles have been part of a woman’s distinctive costume (traje) and associated with her community.
