Belt

1939

\Faja" of commercial cotton yarn, woven on the hip loom in a ribbing technique. The pattern consists of groups of a few ridges close together, interspersed with smooth fabric. \Fajas" woven in the ribbing technique are typical of the region. Popoluca women also make and use them.‖ Fajas have an important place in the traditional dress of men, but especially of women. In men's costume, which has almost completely disappeared nowadays, belts were used to fasten the trousers. In women's traditional costume the wrapskirt was tied around the hips with at least one, but more often with several belts. Often also the "soyate" was used, a belt of braided palm leaf that was attached to the woven belt. The rough surface of the soyate increased the grip of the belt on the often heavy skirts. Belts worn with such a soyate usually have fringes at only one end; the soyate is attached to the other. Small children wear the miniature version of the clothing worn by adults. In addition to a practical function, the woman's belt also had a protective or even magical function. It was often believed that the belt supported the abdomen and protected the unborn child. In many cases, belts were woven in one village or region and transported long distances to be sold in other regions. Often, belts are sold once a year in large markets where the sellers and buyers do not speak the same dialect or even the same language.