Tzoloj Ya' Huipil

Embroidered flowers on the Tzoloj Ya’ huipil represent flora of the Guatemalan department of Sololá (Tzoloj Ya’ is the region’s pre-Columbian name), including the flowering tree, Chinese hibiscus; the evergreen shrub, Madagascar periwinkle; and the purple-blossomed sprawling shrub known as Golden dewdrops. Embroidered birds near the center represent the many species of birds common to the area. However, the part of the huipil that is most traditional to Sololá is the striped bodice. To create this look, yarn is tie-dyed before being woven (an elaborate technique known as Jaspe or Ikat)—a process that is known in indigenous textile communities around the world. Guatemala’s Jaspe technique is one of the more difficult to weave, and is a defining element of both men and women’s clothing in Sololá. A large percentage of current residents of Sololá continue to wear traditional Mayan clothing—more so than in other nearby regions—which would include this design for women’s huipiles. Almost a