Mayan Clothing and Textiles
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Clothing was very important to the Mayan people. "Their traje, or traditional style of clothing readily identified native people throughout Central America and Mexico." For the Mayans and many other cultures, clothing not only served as a cover-up to wear, or to keep warm. It also served as a racial or ethnic marker. "In the past, particularly during the colonial period, laws mandated what type of clothing a person wore, as Indians were forbidden to wear or purchase European-style clothing." The difference between traditional Mayan and Western clothing styles was readily apparent.
Although Mayan clothing was very traditional, it was not unlikely for them to incorporate some Western elements into that clothing tradition. Some Mayan people would wear Western styles of clothing, but would embellish them with embroidery of traditional designs and motifs.
For women, the most traditional of all Mayan clothing was the huipil, or blouse. "It was usually constructed of three panels of cloth and decorated with embroidery and multicolored weave...