Ixchel

For centuries, Maya women in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and Belize have been manually weaving clothing and other textile arts that encapsulate their beliefs, culture, rituals, and traditions. Worldwide, however, the knowledge of Maya culture and its rich colors and designs is in danger. High-fashion designers have been known to document this ancient weaving process to later on incorporate the knowledge into creating expensive products giving little to no credit to the artisans. Traditional indigenous garments worn by Maya people are more than just clothing, they unite and express the identity of ancestral communities. Initiatives such as Museo Ixchel del Traje Indigena aim to educate the public on the evolution of indigenous dress in diverse communities and the techniques used in its elaboration.