Textile production in Mexico is an extremely important craft. Folklore is actually within the fabric of this beautiful country because it represents the continuation of tradition that has survived centuries of globalization and modernization. For the people it is identity, it carries history, and it provides a livelihood. The Mexican people use textiles widely not only as art but an expression of their local culture making it important in the ranks of language and other traditions. It is crucial for the continuation and survival of the ancient cultural heritage of Mexico.
Like most crafts and most things in a culture the textiles of Mexico are generated and shaped by factors like available resources, local customs, and the influences and interactions with the surrounding world and spiritual worlds. The available resources of Mexico, especially in ancient times, naturally are those of plant materials and fibers. These plants chiefly being maguey, or agave and yucca called Ixtle when referring to the stiff plant fiber obtained from any plant. Palm and chichicastle, a nettle were also used. Lechiguilla is a special agave species that was greatly used but found only in the Chihuahuan desert and flowers only once in its life and then dies. Cotton was used anciently but was only able to be grown at the time in the more southern parts of Mexico for its climate. The brilliant variety of colored dyes were obtained from the natural resources as well like minerals, animals, and plants.
The earliest remains of fabric in Mesoamerica have been found dating back to 1800 BC in northern Mexico. Weaving was done in these times by way of the backstrap loom. The talent was so revered that a woman was given the tools as a child and buried with them at her death. They believed it was a gift from the gods. During the Aztec times, in the late 15th century, textiles were so valuable to the people that they were used almost like a form of currency and awarded often to nobles and distinguished warriors. Textiles were not limited to weavings but included embroidery, knotting, and feather work. Mexico is home to 64 different indigenous groups and each group had their own representative textile pattern and style. This is especially prominent in the embroidery techniques and motifs. Zig-zags are used by the Huichols in the States of Nayarit, Jalisco, Durango, Zacatecas. Flowers by the Nahuas, Huichols, Zapotecans, Huastecs, & Otomis in Central Mexico. Letters are often used by the Purépechas in Michoacán. Animal designs are used widely but mainly by the Mazahuas in the State of México and the Zapotecs in Oaxaca. Triangles by the Tarahumaras in Chihuahua, Durango, and Sonora. Moon patterns uniquely by the Otomis in Querétaro, Puebla, Veracruz, Mexico City, Guanajuato, and Hidalgo. Christian motifs are frequently used by Mixtecs, Mazatecs, Nahuas, Totonacs, and Tepehuas in Puebla. Multiple ethnic groups from Chiapas incorperate spirals in their motifs. There are many more of course but there seems to be evidence that each group had a god of weaving and fabric was a way to unite as a tribe and be recognized by others.
Colonialism, after the arrival of the Spanish there came many changes to the world of textiles in Mexico, both negative and positive. Mainly there became a decline of the ancient traditions. As far as clothing, the traditional clothes became looked down upon as being uncivilized and the natives felt forced to adapt more European clothes. The benefits were the introduction of new materials such as wool & silk with the arrival of sheep & silkworms. There was also new technology introduced with the foot loom.
After the Revolution there was a strong effort to create a distinct Mexican identity with success and help of great artist like Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Frida Kahlo to name a few. They portrayed elements of Mexican culture while depicting human life and social messages. This brought what you might call a revival in the rich traditional textiles with it. Although the 19th century brought industrialization there are many highly skilled artisans in Mexico that preserve the unique culture of Mexican textiles. In the early 20th century, the sewing machine appeared in the country and there after became many new exciting advancements in fabric itself. Today the textiles used for upholstery and canvas work are superior enough to stand up against time, decades even, in the harsh Mexican sun. Upholstery designed for comfort has only been around for about 400 years, but the root of the word upholstery is "upholder". So, in a way when you get your upholstery done in Mexico by an artisan you are upholding a tradition of an ancient cultural heritage.
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