Huipil with geometric motives

Unknown artist

The huipil is woven in a step loom with industrialized cotton and rayon. Brocades and embroideries have been applied to this huipil. Embroidery is a decorative technique where extra threads are added to the fabric when it is finished. A brocade is a decorative technique where extra threads are added to the warp and weft during the weaving. In addition, the huipil consists of three pieces of woven fabric. \A huipil is used exclusively by women to cover the upper part of the body (torso, shoulders). This huipil is meant for daily use. The background color of the huipil is white and it is decorated with geometric figures in horizontal strips. This style huipil is very similar to the style of Totonicapán, a community near Quetzaltenango.\Quetzaltenango is located in the department of Quetzaltenango. In 2007, Quetzaltenango had a population of 141,041, of which 70,443 belong to the K´iche´ culture. \Quetzaltenango has its origins in pre-colonial times. In 1524, Spanish conquistadors arrived in the area. They found an area of political states fighting among themselves. Pedro de Alvarado y Contreras had come to the area with several Mexican groups such as the Texocanos, Tlaxcaltecas, Mexicanos and Cholutecas. These groups gave Quetzaltenango its present name, meaning `on the wall of the Quetzal'. \Today Quetzaltenango has a textile industry in which synthetic threads are made. It also has a beer factory.