Huipil

1964

Material: 3 rectangular pieces of cotton, woven with different colors of thread (blue, green, red, orange, white, pink, purple, black), the embroidery is of imitation silk, wool and cotton.Technique: plain woven on a hip loom. Numerous stripes run across the width in different sizes and colors. Most of the stripes are embroidered with geometric or animal figures of various materials and colors (blue, orange, pink, red, purple, light blue, yellow, light green, dark green, army green, beige, violet) that give the huipil a beautifully colored appearance. The neckline is finished with light blue thread with the so-called buttonhole stitch. The women in Usila dye most parts of the huipil with a natural red dye (fucsina).\The traditional costume of the Chinanteca is one of the most colorful in all of Mexico and the women in particular wear many different costumes. The costume for women consists of a "huipil", skirt, belt and head covering. The most beautiful "huipiles" are made in the western part of Chinantla, the home of the Chinanteca and especially in the villages Usila and Ojitlán. Often the "huipil" is the only garment that is still woven completely by hand, other parts are usually made of factory-made fabrics. The "huipil" for everyday use is usually made of white cotton and consists of three strips of fabric sewn together. The embroidered decoration on this type of huipil is mainly on the chest, shoulder and underside of the front and is probably of pre-Spanish origin. Snake, diamond and bird motifs are often visible on these garments. The "huipil" for festive occasions is entirely red with the same dimensions as the everyday one. Contrasting coloured cotton strips are often woven into this garment and often decorated with geometric patterns. Sometimes the armholes are fringed with lace.‖ The huipil has been worn with headpiece 5075-167, belt 5075-168 and skirt 5075-169, 170.