The beauty of the Mayan textiles that we discovered in our trip to southern Mexico goes much deeper than the eye can see. Which is usually the case when an ancient civilization’s art, cultural, social and religious beliefs are translated visually. Combining these elements have led to the patterns, colors, and styles of the textiles woven still used today. Most important, however, is the individual passion that each woman/weaver brings to the loom when she sets to work. Her relationship to the beautiful natural surroundings, the warmth and love within the community that has shaped her and her religious convictions are the subtle nuances that make each garment, each textile, unique.
The universe was unpredictable and misunderstood by the ancients which required them to give meaning and description to natural events taking place around them. In the Mayan culture, textiles were equivalent to the written word. A picture book if you will. The scribes, those individuals making sure the story was being told and passed down were the women in the villages who were believed to have been chosen by the gods to carry out this sacred task. Being responsible for keeping their stories alive and passing them down, these women were afforded goddess-like status among their people.
Women not only work together, but support one another on a much deeper level. Weaving and dealing with the tasks of everyday life were one continuous motion. In addition to the weaving, meals had to be made, children had to be tended to and farm chores carried out, creating a fluid symphony amongst the women, played from sunrise to sunset.
We saw many women sitting and sewing new designs as we shopped, and all were more than happy to explain some of the more mythical and fanciful scenes on the textiles. Most had learned their skills from their mother or grandmother. And while some of the more traditional styles have been updated, not much has changed and the tradition remains to pass along the skills from generation to generation.
The MAYAN women region of CHIAPAS are granted a status far different from what exists in the western world. Their culture is much more matriarchal. Women are the backbone of this society and as such, treated with a great deal of respect from the men within the community. It is the women who hold the future of their lives and economy in their hands.
To that end, From The World With Love has made it their mission to bring these pieces of clothing to a world that can help establish and sustain these women in cultivating a cottage industry to enhance their lives. Visit our website to see all the beautiful pieces of clothing, jewelry and home items we brought back from Mexico and help this wonderful community flourish!
More to come….
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