A Designer’s Glossary for Traditional Textiles from Guatemala
Traditional Textiles
Huipil: (Pronounced “wee-peel”) A traditional blouse that is made by weaving 2-3 panels on the backstrap loom. Each panel is then joined together to make a top. One Huipil can require 1-6 months to make depending the technique!
Corte: (Pronounced “KOHR-teh”) A traditional skirt woven on a floor loom now a days. A length of fabric is folded around the waist and secured with a belt.
Faja: (Pronounced “fa”hah”) The handwoven belt used to secure a corte to the waist.
Randa: An embroidered joinery stitch used to join two pieces of cloth in a decorative way.
Sute: (Pronounced “soo-tay”) A piece of cloth used as a decorative accessory or used to carry things.
Cinta: (Pronounced “seen-tah”) A narrow woven piece of cloth worn as a hair piece in San Antonio Palopó (different regions have different names for decorative pieces worn on the head).
techniques
Woven: Fabric created using threads that cross interlace in vertical and horizontal directions
Warp: Threads set up in the vertical direction on the loom to create a woven fabric. The warp threads are set up as the first step to weaving and act as a base.
Weft: Threads that go in the horizontal direction on the loom. This thread is added during the weaving process above and below each warp thread.
Embroidery: Thread is added to a fabric using a needle.
Brocade: Additional warp threads are placed at interval points during the weaving process to add color or create images.
Jaspe: (Pronounced “hahs-PAY”) Similar to Ikat, where a tie-dye technique is applied to threads before weaving.
TOOLS
Floor Loom: A large wooden structure placed on the ground - hence the name. The floor loom has evolved over time to allow the weaver to weave longer lengths and wider fabrics.
Backstrap Loom: An ancient weaving technique that has existed for thousands of years. The loom is created using various sticks that go in between the warp threads. The loom is then attached around the back of the weaver using a leather strap. The weaver creates a tight tension to weave using her body.
Natural Dye: A method of dyeing fibers using naturally found materials such as flowers, plants, and insects.
Skein of Yarn: A bundle of threads that has been organized to reduce tangles during the weaving process.
Words to be Careful With
Artisan: Don’t say “Our Artisans” unless they are on your full time employee payroll. Some artisans prefer to be called artists! Just ask how they prefer to identify, give them a voice.
Designer: You might be the designer of your brand, but unless you are a Maya weaver, you are not the designer of traditionally woven designs from Guatemala. Be sure to give credit where credit is due to the communities or weavers.
Inspired: Again, give credit where credit is due, get consent, and compensate fairly when using traditional designs.
Upcycled Huipil: A greenwashing term often used to romanticize the resale or reuse of traditional garments. In reality, huipiles are rarely, if ever, discarded. When they appear in secondhand markets, it can sometimes be because a weaver has been forced—by poverty or lack of economic opportunity—to sell a piece of clothing deeply tied to her identity, community, and ancestral knowledge. Referring to these as “upcycled” erases the difficult choices and systemic inequities behind their resale. Be mindful of how this term is used and who profits from it.
Sustainable: Just chose a more specific word and educate people on everything that goes behind your product.
Ethical: Also a tricky one this is nuanced. Try to be more specific with something you can back up. We like to say “responsibly sourced”. For us, responsibility means: transparency, thorough research, and honesty when we can do better.