The huipil—a garment worn by women in Mexico from the time before the arrival of the Europeans until the present day—is a landmark in Mesoamerican attire. Generally formed of handwoven cloth panels that are folded and stitched into a rectangular garment, they feature a rich array of materials, colors, techniques, and designs, and constitute one of the essential and dynamic forms of cultural identity.
Join the Fowler and Elena Phipps, scholar of textile traditions of the Americas, in welcoming Hector Meneses Lozano, director of the Museo Textil de Oaxaca. The program will briefly trace the history of the huipil and highlight some of its special features. Lozano will share some examples from the extensive collection of the Museo Textil de Oaxaca, alongside a few special pieces from the Fowler Museum. The discussion will then focus on a unique group of huipiles woven with spun downy bird feathers. We invite you to glimpse the subtle beauty of these sophisticated creations from the 16th to the 21st century.
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Image Credit: Xunka Tulan (Navenchauc, San Lorenzo Zinacantán, Chiapas, Mexico); Wedding huipil, commissioned late 1970s; cotton, feathers; Fowler Museum at UCLA, X91.546; Gift of Mrs. Gene Stuart
