Belt

Warp-faced fabrics with three or four selvedges are woven by women on the indigenous style loom, a staked-out horizontal ground loom, or an adjustable tension (body) loom. The technique and structure have pre-Conquest antecedents, and as in ancient times, the fabrics are used in their rectangular form without cutting or shaping. Worn by women to hold up underskirts, as well as, outer skirts. Prior to childbirth, they wrap this type of belt tightly above the baby to help with an easy delivery. Women also use the belt to secure the swaddling cloths of infants or put them on their young children.

Woven by Candelaria Cruz Machaca and used by her for about 5 years. Candelaria is a middle-aged woman, widowed in 1984, with 5 children.

women; everyday

Weave structure is a complementary warp-weave with 2 span floats. Synthetic yarns have been overtwisted and handspun yarns have been plied tightly. The terminal area is braided and separate woven ties are sewn to both ends of the entire braid.

Belt woven with with a gradation of rainbow colours and a band of hot pink herringbone design at the centre. At one end the terminal section of warp has been braided and twined together with orange yarn.