2. • Indigenous people in
Mesoamerica have
practiced weaving for
thousands of years.
Weaving in Mesoamerica
3. • The Mayans, Aztecs, and
Incas boasted vibrant
weaving traditions
characterized by bright
colors and intricate
patterns.
• Their descendants still
continue these traditions
combined with European
influences.
Weaving in Mesoamerica
4. Mayan Weaving
• In Mayan culture, weaving was
central to a woman’s role in the
household.
• In addition to its economic
importance, weaving was
considered to have spiritual
elements.
• Today, Mayan descendants in the
Guatemalan highlands continue
these traditions.
5. “Well then, little girl,
This will be your hand
This will be your foot
Here is your work
With this, you’ll look for your food,
Don’t take the evil path,
Don’t steal
When you grow up
Only with these will you work
With your hand
With your foot”
--Traditional words spoken by Mayan midwife when
presenting a baby girl with her first weaving tools.
7. Ixchel
• Ixchel was depicted sitting in
profile, with one end of her loom
tied to a tree and the other
around her waist. She is
weaving with the shuttle in her
left hand.
• Today, women in the
Guatemalan highlands weave in
exactly the same way.
8. Huipil
• Huipil (“wipil”) is the most common
traditional garment worn by indigenous
women from central Mexico to Central
America.
9. Huipil
• It is a loose-fitting tunic,
generally made from two or
three rectangular pieces of
fabric which are then joined
together with stitching,
ribbons or fabric strips, with
an opening for the head and,
if the sides are sewn,
openings for the arms.
10. Huipil
• Huipils are heavily decorated with designs woven
into the fabric, embroidery, ribbons, lace and more.
• Some have intricate and meaningful designs.
• Ceremonial huipils are the most elaborate and are
reserved for weddings, burials, women of high rank
and even to dress the statues of saints.
11. Backstrap Loom
• Traditional huipils are made with
fabric woven on a backstrap
loom.
• This is a simple loom constisting
of two sticks or bars between
which the warps are stretched.
• One bar is attached to a fixed
object, and the other to the
weaver usually by means of a
strap around the back.
12. Backstrap Loom
• The weaver leans back and
uses his or her body weight to
tension the loom.
• Width is limited to how far the
weaver can reach from side to
side to pass the shuttle.
• The looms are used to produce
such things as belts, ponchos,
bags, hatbands and carrying
cloths.
18. European Influences
• The Mayans and Aztecs wore
huipils long before the arrival
of Europeans to the Americas.
19. European Influences
• Since the European
conquest, the huipil has
survived and evolved,
incorporating elements
from Europe and other
regions.
20. European Influences
• The treadle (or foot)
loom was introduced
to Mayan weavers by
Spaniards shortly after
the conquest.
• Traditional weavers
still use a backstrap
loom.
Treadle loom
Backstrap loom
21. Weaving materials
•Since pre-Colombian times, fibers from
the agave plant (“Ixtle”) were used to
make cloth.
•Both white and dark cotton are spun
into yarn for Mayan cloth. In ancient
times, cotton was expensive and used
mainly for ceremonial costumes. Today,
cotton is used in all types of weaving.
•Sheep were introduced to Mexico in the
16th century, and Maya spinning and
weaving practices expanded to include
wool.
Natural
agave
fibers
Cotton
threads
Wool blanket
25. Mayan Design Elements
Calendar symbols
•Symbolically mark the passage of
time.
•Some weavers make color
changes on the eighteenth,
twentieth, nineteenth and fifth rows
to make the eighteen months of
twenty days and the nineteenth
month of five days that comprise
the Mayan calendar.
•Others illustrate the solstices by
placing two bright spots in their
designs.
26. Mayan Design Elements
Universe Design
•Four sides represent the boundaries of space
and time.
•Small diamonds in each corner are the
cardinal points: east on top where the sun
rises, west at the bottom for the end of the day,
north on the left and south on the right.
•Often the east and west sides are colored blue
to represent the Caribbean Sea to the east and
Pacific Ocean to the west.
•At times a thin yellow line connecting east to
west shows the sun's path across the sky.
27. Mayan Design Elements
Ancestor Design
•Mayan communities have a strong
relationship to their ancestors.
•The ancestors watch over and guide
the living and speak to them in dreams.
•They don't represent the actual
ancestors of an individual, but are rather
supernatural symbolic beings who were
the first people to plant corn and live as
humans.
28. Mayan Design Elements
Flowery Flag
•This design represents
ceremonial flags used at
festivals and special
occasions.
