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Mexican Clothing: Textiles, Mexican Folk Art, Indigenous People, Weaving, Embroidery, Fibers And Designs
By:
Published: January 21, 2008
Mexican culture is rich, diverse, and deep rooted in tradition. Much of Mexico's ancestral history lives on through their art and music. One custom, though, that seems to be slowly disappearing is the making and wearing of traditional Mexican clothing. The practice of making Mexican clothing used to be passed down from generation to generation, but is now fading due to modernization and globalization.
However, the soul of Mexican clothing can still be seen by the few men and women who still don the traditional garbs today.
The clothing of indigenous people is a form of Mexican folk art. The methods of weaving and creating Mexican clothing is not only passed down from mother to daughter, but representative of specific villages and areas of origin. Pre-Hispanic civilizations made their clothing from materials such as cotton, bark, and agave. However, after the introduction of wool and silk by the Spanish, these fibers were used widely in Mexican clothing. To this day, cotton is still the most common material used for Mexican clothing.
Though the fibers may be common across all villages, the designs of Mexican clothing are specific to indigenous people and from where they originated. Distinct, lively designs represented each village and were used to differentiate between people's areas of origin. The weaving and colorful embroidery was done by hand by the women in the village and the Mexican folk art was passed down to their daughters. Though each design varied, common themes such as flowers, animals, and geometric lines can be seen in most Mexican clothing.
Common types of traditional Mexican clothing for women include huipils which are long, sleeveless tunics. Quechquemitls and rebozos are two kinds of coverings, the former is more like a cape whereas the latter is similar to a shawl. Mexican clothing for men also has a variation of these coverings called sarapes. Mexican clothing items such as these are usually thick, heavy, sturdy, and feature bright, colorful patterns.
Making textiles is one of the oldest practices in the Mexican culture. However, as small villages are being overrun by larger cities and indigenous people are encouraged to move to urban areas, these traditions are disappearing. Whereas at one time textiles were commonly worn, nowadays Mexican clothing may just be worn during festivals, celebrations, or by elders still living in the villages.
There is pressure to modernize and avoid wearing this long-standing traditional Mexican clothing to adapt better to a more urbanized area. As this pressure increases, the ancestral techniques of making Mexican clothing also fades. Textiles have been around for 5,000 years and the knowledge of how to construct them is no longer passed along as it was.
These forgotten forms of Mexican folk art strip the culture of its richness and diversity. The Mexican culture has always been one to value knowledge and rituals from their ancestors. The art of making Mexican clothing is necessary to preserve the historic significance of the culture and keep the traditions of the indigenous people of Mexico alive.
Sources:
"Indigenous Textile Patterns." Mexican Textiles. 2006. 20 Dec. 2007. http://www.mexicantextiles.com/flies/cooltextiles. html.
"About This Website. Mexican Textiles. 2006. 20 Dec. 2007. http://www.mexicantextiles.com/.
"Mexican Clothing." Facts About Mexico. 2007. 20 Dec. 2007. http://www.facts-about-mexico.com/mexican-clothing .html.
The clothing of indigenous people is a form of Mexican folk art. The methods of weaving and creating Mexican clothing is not only passed down from mother to daughter, but representative of specific villages and areas of origin. Pre-Hispanic civilizations made their clothing from materials such as cotton, bark, and agave. However, after the introduction of wool and silk by the Spanish, these fibers were used widely in Mexican clothing. To this day, cotton is still the most common material used for Mexican clothing.
Though the fibers may be common across all villages, the designs of Mexican clothing are specific to indigenous people and from where they originated. Distinct, lively designs represented each village and were used to differentiate between people's areas of origin. The weaving and colorful embroidery was done by hand by the women in the village and the Mexican folk art was passed down to their daughters. Though each design varied, common themes such as flowers, animals, and geometric lines can be seen in most Mexican clothing.
Common types of traditional Mexican clothing for women include huipils which are long, sleeveless tunics. Quechquemitls and rebozos are two kinds of coverings, the former is more like a cape whereas the latter is similar to a shawl. Mexican clothing for men also has a variation of these coverings called sarapes. Mexican clothing items such as these are usually thick, heavy, sturdy, and feature bright, colorful patterns.
Making textiles is one of the oldest practices in the Mexican culture. However, as small villages are being overrun by larger cities and indigenous people are encouraged to move to urban areas, these traditions are disappearing. Whereas at one time textiles were commonly worn, nowadays Mexican clothing may just be worn during festivals, celebrations, or by elders still living in the villages.
There is pressure to modernize and avoid wearing this long-standing traditional Mexican clothing to adapt better to a more urbanized area. As this pressure increases, the ancestral techniques of making Mexican clothing also fades. Textiles have been around for 5,000 years and the knowledge of how to construct them is no longer passed along as it was.
These forgotten forms of Mexican folk art strip the culture of its richness and diversity. The Mexican culture has always been one to value knowledge and rituals from their ancestors. The art of making Mexican clothing is necessary to preserve the historic significance of the culture and keep the traditions of the indigenous people of Mexico alive.
Sources:
"Indigenous Textile Patterns." Mexican Textiles. 2006. 20 Dec. 2007. http://www.mexicantextiles.com/flies/cooltextiles. html.
"About This Website. Mexican Textiles. 2006. 20 Dec. 2007. http://www.mexicantextiles.com/.
"Mexican Clothing." Facts About Mexico. 2007. 20 Dec. 2007. http://www.facts-about-mexico.com/mexican-clothing .html.
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