Mayas Contributing The Tourism

Mayan clothing can communicate so much information about the wearer, each item of clothing becomes quite important. Fashion trends, such as the cut of a man's shirt or the length of a woman's skirt, can be specific to a particular village, but the same basic elements make up the Mayan clothing ensemble, regardless of the village, state, or nation of the wearer. Men usually wear a shirt, pants, a hat, and usually a sash or belt. Throughout Mesoamerica, men carry bags made of wool or maguey fiber. Women generally are seen wearing a huipil or blouse, a corte or skirt, and a sash. They also carry a shawl that serves myriad functions. It can keep them warm on a cool morning or be used to carry a child on their back. Some women use these shawls to carry their produce to the market or their purchases home from a day of shopping.

Maya women wear huipíles, and huipíles adorn the statues of their saints in the church. The design of the huipíl identifies the community to which the wearer belongs.

Elements of Precolumbian, Aztec and European styles are incorporated in garments from different regions, although the designs have been modified over time.

After centuries of Colonial rule and loss of native lands, the Maya had neither time nor money to make traditional garments. By the early 1800s, women began to wear an undecorated huipíl or adopted embroidered European-style blouses. By the end of the 19th century, most Maya women had forgotten the technique of brocade weaving entirely.

Only a few women in each community have the skill, knowledge and dedication to weave batz'i luch, or "true designs" for the ceremonial huipíl.

Ceremonial huipíl of Santa Maria Magdalenas

These master weavers are the esteemed servants of the saints, who care for and study the oldest huipíles and become the recognized scholars of their weaving tradition. The ceremonial huipíl is only worn by the statues of saints and the wives of religious officials.

Ethnicity and Clothing Styles