Dress Item Number: 3651/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Handmade huipil made from pale green-brown and beige undyed cotton. The dress is constructed of three vertical, rectangular panels of fabric, joined with stitching; with a U-shaped neckline and openings at the sides for the arms. Decorated with embroidered designs. The design elements include: water; tortoises; marigolds, mountains; Flor de Mayo (May flower); and a conjoined tarantula and water cockroach.
This huipil was used by Victorina Lopez Hilario while she was conducting a workshop at UBC, as part of the 'Debating Origins and Directions of Interregional Exchange in Latin America' organized by Aleksa Alaica. The attendees at the conference, including Hilario, toured MOA with Rowley on October 26, 2023. After the tour (Oct. 28) Rowley purchased two huipils and the raw cotton samples for the MOA collection.
Made with natural, undyed cotton. The cotton fibres were hand-spun, then woven on a backstrap loom. The huipil is made from panels that were assembled and sewn together.