Maya Textiles

The tradition of Maya textiles, spun, dyed, woven and sown by hand, continues in the many native towns that dot Chiapas.  Styles, colors and designs are unique to each town.  You see them worn in the streets all around San Cristobal, and for sale in the gift shops and markets .  This traditional dress and these production methods are national treasures.  The Mexican government, through its Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), strives to keep this cultural heritage from disappearing.

Just two blocks from our house, the INAH has recently refurbished part of the ex-convent of Santo Domingo into a museum of the history of Chiapas and, on the second floor, has created a museum dedicated to Maya textiles.  The museum is first-class in its presentation.  The beautiful artifacts are accompanied and explained by videos showing the Maya women producing these traditional pieces of clothing, which are also gorgeous works of art.

After visiting the textile museum yesterday, Sara decided that she needed to visit a shop that carried some of these beautiful things.  We stopped in one on the way back from the post office where Sara bought a couple souvenirs.

Everything in the shop is made by hand in small villages
outside San Cristobal

Even the wrap-around changing-room
curtain is a work of art

The two girls that worked in the shop spoke Mayan between
themselves.  One was from Chamula and the other from
Aguacatenago.  Note the black, furry Chamula skirt.