Huipil

1934

The traditional costume of the Chinanteca is one of the most colourful in all of Mexico and especially the women 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 produced fabrics. The "huipil" for festive occasions, like this one, is entirely red in color and has the same dimensions as the everyday one. This "huipil" is decorated with geometric patterns. Often the armholes of the festive huipil are fringed with lace.It was worn at weddings.\Nowhere is a handspun cotton huipil with a red pattern.\Multi-coloured commercial yarn used for embroidery.\Acquired 1934Dimensions: L: 85 cm W: 83 cmDescription: Huipil of handspun cotton, white yarn used for warp and red yarn for weft. Plain weave alternated with narrow bands of gauze weave in white cotton and broad cross bands of checkered gauze weave in red and white cotton. Plain weave is decorated with multi-coloured weft pin-stripes. Panels are joined with blue and red 'randa' work. Centre panel has two blocks of multi-coloured embroidery of diamond shapes. Geometrical designs embroidered around hem. Neck opening cut out square, finished with blanket stitch in blue cotton yarn.\Now, it is used with Chiapaneca skirt vide 5075-169, 170.\Now, it is used for wedding.\Provenience: Valle Nacional, Oax.