Huipil 3D Model Viewer
Huipils are common in a variety of forms throughout Indigenous communities in Mexico and Central America, so specific designs can indicate the garment’s place of origin. Many everyday huipils are woven on backstrap looms, but the Isthmus Zapotec ones use black velvet for special occasions. Women wear these relatively short huipils with a matching embroidered skirt (Spa. falda, Zap. bizuudi) and a white lace petticoat (Spa. enagua). They also wear a large, round headdress of starched white fabric (Spa. resplandor, Zap. bidaani quichi/bidaani ro). All together, these pieces create a traditional Zapotec outfit called traje bordado. Traditionally, Zapotec women embroider each of these garments by hand.
Photos Courtesy of Anya Peterson Royce
Traje bordado and traditional clothing worn by other Zapotec people can been seen at a festival called Guelaguetza. This festival takes place in the city of Oaxaca, the capital of the state of Oaxaca, each July. The word guelaguetza is a Zapotec word meaning “reciprocal exchange of gifts and services,” and the festival focuses on the sharing of traditions that include arts, crafts, foods, clothing, dance, music, and theater. It has become an important economic factor for the city as thousands of tourists attend each year.
Zapotec styles have inspired many people, including artists like Frida Kahlo. In recent years, Indigenous-inspired designs have begun to appear in European and American fashion prompting questions about cultural appropriation. Indigenous weavers and designers have pushed back against some of these mass-produced garments, as they threaten traditional businesses and craftsmanship.
Huipil Activity Guide
