This pop-up clothing sale features the indigenous Mexico short poncho or triangular bodice cover-up called a quechquemitl in the Nahuatl language, used by pre-Hispanic women throughout the country.
It’s my favorite accessory and that’s why I have too many of them! Slip one over your head, and your shoulders and bodice are covered beautifully, even if you are only wearing a tank-top or halter. It’s a one-piece scarf, too, that never falls off!
My 2011 Quechquemitl Blog Post
Here I am offering — in like-new, rarely worn condition — some beautiful indigenous clothing made by women and men in Oaxaca villages, most made with natural dyes, some hand-spun native cotton. As you might expect, they are from some of Oaxaca’s finest weavers, dyers and designers.
All prices include shipping within 48 U.S. states! Send me an email and tell me which piece(s) you want. I’ll email you a PayPal invoice. Purchases must be made by June 30. I will ship from Santa Fe, New Mexico after July 7.
Native, rare Oaxaca coyuchi cotton quechquemitl, hand-trimmed in green, $125 USD
- Coyuchi Cotton Quechquemitl (above) handwoven in the village of San Sebastian Rio Hondo on the back strap loom by Khadi Oaxaca. Color is a warm caramel. One size fits all. $125 USD.
1B. Coyuchi hand-spun wild cotton quechquemitl, close-up
Note about coyuchi cotton: This is rare, wild native cotton grown in the high mountains of Oaxaca that separates the valley and the coast.
2. SOLD. This pericone (wild marigold) dyed quechquemitl (below) is exactly the same style as the one above, made in San Sebastian Rio Hondo by Khadi Oaxaca. It is golden-yellow and the hand weaving shows the variegation of the process. One size. $145 USD.
Pericone and indigo quechquemitl, hand-spun cotton, soft gold and variegated blue
Pericone quechquemitl with indigo blue cotton thread. $145 USD
3. Below. Pericone/indigo/coyuchi dress, size M/L. I made a pattern from a favorite Dosa dress and have sewed it multiple times with French seams, patch pockets, and lots of designer detailing and hand stitching. For this dress, I bought hand-spun cotton fabric from Khadi Oaxaca that is hand-woven and dyed with wild marigold, indigo and integrates native coyuche cotton. $165 USD.
3B. Detail, Dosa-inspired dress with Khadi Oaxaca fabric
Here is the full dress below.
3A. Size M/L dress made with Khadi Oaxaca handspun + woven cotton. $165 USD
4. Alfredo Orozco nut-dyed quechquemitl, below, is woven on a flying shuttle pedal loom in the deshillado technique, which means there is an open-weave. You can see the detail in photo 4B. This one is more pale beige than brown. Touches of cream-colored ikat add interest. One size. $85 USD.
Hand-woven, nut-dyed Orozco quechquemitl with ikat warp threads, $85 USD
Below is the weave detail of the fabric above. Finish work is done by Alfredo’s wife Veronica on the sewing machine.
4B. Orozco beige quechquemitl detail with open weave.
5. SOLD. Below, same Orozco style as #4, but with indigo blue dyed threads to add detail of design. One size fits all, $85 USD.
Orozco quechquemitl with nut and indigo dyes. Detail is with open weave. $85 USD
#5B. Orozco nut/indigo dyed quechquemitl, more beige than photo shows. $85 USD
6. Melon colored cotton top, below, size medium, from the Oaxaca shop of Remigio Mestas, Los Baules de Juana Cata, the finest in town. Machine chain stitching, commercial thread, signed by back-strap loom weaver. $75
Cotton top from Remigio Mestas’ Los Baules de Juana Cata, $75 USD
6B. Detail of cotton top from Remigio Mestas
7. SOLD. Turquoise quechquemitl, one size, with machine chain stitch detailing, hand-finished seams and hem. From the best shop in Oaxaca, Los Baules de Juana Cata and Remigio Mestas. $125 USD.
Quechquemitl in brilliant turquoise from Remigio Mestas, one size, $125 USD
7B. Detail of turquoise quechquemitl. Not discolored, just photo light variations.
8. Wine Red Quechquemitl, below, from Los Baules de Juana Cata and Remigio Mestas who personally works with indigenous weavers and embroiderers to make the finest garments. One size. $125 USD.
Wine Red Quechquemitl, one size, $125 USD, from the shop of Remigio Mestas
Detail of wine red quechquemitl from Remigio Mestas’ Oaxaca shop
Let me know which one you would like to purchase by number — send me an email. I’ll be going to the USA in early July and will mail to you via USPS after July 7. Thank you very much!
Cuetzalan del Progreso Hosts Annual Fair, Puebla, Mexico
It’s sunrise in Cuetzalan del Progreso, Puebla, Mexico. I’m high in the mountains of the Sierra Norte where the indigenous language of Nahuatl is spoken. Beaded and embroidered blouses are predominant here. This is one of the original ten Pueblo Magico‘s and my second visit here. Definitely worth the return!
Selling handwoven and embroidered wool ponchos on the market steps
The triangular scarves and ponchos called huipiles (that I know as quechquemitls) are still woven on back strap looms. Local women walk barefoot on cobbled streets that climb and wind vertically through the village.
Sleeve detail, cotton embroidered blouse, Cuetzalan, Puebla
The women and girls are adorned with blouses featuring colorful figures of birds, barnyard animals and flowers, winding vines. Bodice ruffles are edged in turquoise, orange or red. Depending on their village of origin, the cap sleeve could be shirred or plain. Men wear traditional white shirts and pants, their feet protected by hand-hewn leather thongs, their heads covered in woven straw hats. Traditions are strong here.
Shirred cap sleeve with elaborate embroidery, ruffles, Cuetzalan, Puebla
I’m traveling with my sister Barbara, who I met in Mexico City earlier in the week. We joined up with friend Merry Foss in Cuetzalan for the annual Feria del Cafe, the raucous celebration of regional coffee. The coffee farms here are plentiful. We are at the right altitude and the beverage is delicious.
Finely embroidered bodice panels waiting to become a blouse, Pedro Martin Workshop
I’m using Sheri Brautigam’s guidebook, Textile Fiestas of Mexico, to find the textile artisan Pedro Martin at Taller Mazatzin known locally as Casa Rosa. The book has an ample section on Cuetzalan. To get to his village of Cuauhtamazaco, 30 minutes from town on a winding mountain road, Barbara and I hop into the back of a covered pick-up truck that is lined with passenger benches. In remote regions of Mexico, this transport mode serves as the major means of getting around. Cost is 8 pesos each.
Alfredo Pizarro (2nd from left) and crew at Pedro Martin Textile Workshop
Pedro, his brother Alfredo Pizarro, cousins and nephews, work magic on a back strap loom. They innovate the traditional huipil design to combine colors and patterns that yields a fine cotton gauze. For blouses that have the intricate, detailed embroidery, they source the bodice panels from only the finest needleworkers who live in remote villages and work only in 100% cotton.
I’m modeling an innovative two-tone huipil from Pedro Martin textile workshop
In the studio, it is the men who cut the patterns, sew and weave. Pedro Martin and his family participated in the Feria del Rebozo at the Franz Mayer Museum, Mexico City, last year.
Using local transportation in and around Cuetzalan, Puebla
Internet service here is intermittent. So, I’m writing before we go off to another village where Merry Foss started a textile cooperative seven years ago. She is doing an expo-venta tomorrow morning with a group of collectors from Los Amigos del Arte Popular de Mexico, who are also here for the fair. The women of Merry’s cooperative make extraordinary beaded blouses, called chakira. The beads originally came to Mexico from Europe and Asia as ballast on the Spanish galleons and the China Poblana shirt was born.
Embellished huipil (quechquemitl) with lots of bling, Cuetzalan, Puebla
Most of the embroidery and beadwork around town is made for the tourist market and is of average quality. No fine needlework, no finished seams. You see the finest work being worn by the women themselves. The trick is to be able to locate the best of what is made. You can find a few pieces in the artisan market. (See Sheri’s book for details.) But, I’ve been asking the ladies, Where can I get one like yours?
Vendors on the steps leading up to the market, Cuetzalan, Puebla
As the coffee fair started, I wandered to the church courtyard beckoned by the waft of copal incense. I met a group of women gathered waiting for a celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The majordoma, or leader of the group, kept the copal incense burner alive with intermittent puffs of breath on the burning coals.
The majordoma turns to smile at me. I made a 100 peso contribution to refrescos.
How to get to Cuetzalan: It’s a six-hour bus ride from Mexico City on ADO or Primera Plus. Almost four hours from Puebla on Via. Buy your tickets in advance. You can’t do this online! Sorry.
Where to stay: We are happy at Casa de Piedra, a clean, lovely hotel set down the steep hill from the plaza. It looks like a stone fortress. Great breakfast and views.
Taller Mazatzin, Pedro Martin Concepcion, tel: 52-1-233-759-3992. Get the colectivo truck at the station on the street behind the church.
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Posted in Cultural Commentary, Folk Art, Textiles, Tapestries & Weaving, Travel & Tourism
Tagged back strap loom, beads, blouses, bus, Cuetzalan, Embroidery, huipil, Merry Foss, Mexico, Pedro Martin, Puebla, quechquemitl, Taller Mazatzin, textile fiestas, textiles, tourism, travel, weaving