Ancestral Attire: Memory of Tradition
Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo, heritage of woven traditions
Embroidery from the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura
Spun stories
In X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, the Loo'l Pich collective embroiders fabrics that carry with them deep stories and meanings rooted in Mayan culture.
Embroidery from the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura
Colors of the universe
Beyond the color, each tone and shape speaks of insects, lands, skies, the seas of Quintana Roo, and the emotions of those who choose it: love, patience, and creativity.
Community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura
Natural inspiration
Bees are present in the Mayan cosmogony, and some textiles are inspired by them.
Embroidery from the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura
Woven lives
The embroidered silhouettes tell stories: from everyday events to legends; each design is an account of Mayan life.
Embroidery from the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura
Embroidered mythology
Central in the Mayan embroideries, the rhombus represents the Paach Kaan snake, a pillar of Mayan culture. Its zigzags reveal the animal's eyes, fangs, and sinuous body. This is how myth and art merge in each stitch.
Embroidery from the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura
A portrait of wildlife
Other animals like the jaguar and the plants endemic to Quintana Roo such as the akil chuy or k'opte' are honored by the threads of the Lool' Pich artisans.
Embroidery from the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura
Pre-Hispanic inspiration
The graphic patterns seen in the Mayan pyramids are also portrayed with color by the artisans.
Embroidery from the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura
A very personal story
Each stitch, each color, is an expression of the Mayan world, but also of the story of each artisan.
Artisan of the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura
Art needs no words
Artisans like Josefa Pech Yam communicate entire universes in each embroidery.
Artisan of the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura
The magic of tradition
Each fabric reflects ancient legends and traditions. In the hands of artisans like Fausta Coh Balam, Mayan history comes to life and the past is interwoven with the present.
Embroidery from the Loo’l Pich Collective in the community of X-Pichil, Quintana Roo, Mexico. (2023-09-02) by Antonio MuñozSecretaría de Cultura
