Mayan_textiles

Knowledge of Mayan textiles is limited mostly to elite ceremonial costumes; nonetheless their clothing has significant representation in the complexities of their culture. The most prevalent and influential aspect of women's clothing in ancient Maya is the huipil, which is still prominent in Guatemalan culture today. The huipil is a loose rectangular garment with a hole in the middle for the head made from lightweight sheer cotton. The huipil is usually white with colorful cross-stripping and zigzag designs woven into the cloth using the brocade technique still commonly used today. The huipil could be worn loose or tucked into a skirt; this depends on the varying lengths of the huipil. Huipils were important displaying one's religion and tribal affiliation. Different communities tended to have different designs, colors, lengths as well as particular huipils for ceremonial purposes. It was uncommon and often disgraceful to wear a huipil design from another community within one's village; although, it was a sign of respect to wear a community's huipil when visiting another village. Although, women were not just limited to their community's design. Instead the design offered an outline for what women were required to have and within the community design women were allowed creativity to make theirs different than others often to express praise to different gods by including significant animals around the collar.