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Mar 10

The Colors of Guatemalan Textiles

ClothRoads just returned from our first textile travel to the Guatemalan Highlands. Deborah Chandler and Teresa Cordón, authors of Traditional Weavers of Guatemala, crafted this colorful journey for us. They opened up their world of weaving (both foot-pedal and backstrap), spinning, jaspe dyeing, embroidery, and basketry, as well as translated the outpourings from the artisans. We met almost half the artisans in the book, traveling long mountainous bumpy roads, the altitude shifts showing on Deb’s old pilot’s altimeter. We left with more than textiles–we left with the richness of sharing in a textile cultural heritage. What follows is a small visual treat, with promises of more to come.

Lola Sapalú embroiders a new huipil, covering it with fanciful birds.
The fine tapestry weaving of cintas from the Santa Ana cooperative.
A weaver from Nebaj carries her baby the traditional way.
A map of the Maya Huipiles helps to identify the 117 municipalities.
Detail of bullion stitching on huipil.
Embroidered flowers augment the surface of the rich jaspe huipil.
Embroidered huipil worn at early morning market in Chichicastenango.
A wall of jaspe (a complex tie-and-dye technique) at the market in Momostenango.
Finely woven cintas are worn as hair ribbons or wraps.
Colorful rugs hooked by the Multicolores women.
Jaspe thread ready for weaving.
Handspun wool blankets from Momostenango

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