Guatemalan huipil

Women’s blouse from San Juan Sacatepéquez, Guatemala. Handwoven on a backstrap loom. Known as a huipil (or weepil) or Mayan poncho, it comes from the Mixtec word “huipilli,” meaning blouse. They are handwoven and worn by indigenous women in Guatemala. Each huipil represents the embroidery and weaving techniques specific to the region or village it comes from, as well as the wearer’s marital status, economic level, and religious beliefs. They can be found very short and wide, and in some cases longer and of varying widths. Mayan women wear them tucked into their skirts with a wide sash over the skirt. It can be worn with jeans and boots, a pencil skirt, or a high-waisted skirt.