Sololá
Location: Sololá
Description:
This second selection from the book Indian Costumes of Guatemala is a male costume, and it was selected because of the lively colors and European-cut jacket, which the author assures us is quite popular amongst the native groups. Her description of the man is given:
"This man was an official (Principal) of the civil government of Sololá or of the cofradáa (religious society). Several features of his costume are distinctive of official or ceremonial dress. First is the dark straw hat woven of palm leaf and tinted black, with a tzut wound about the crown...The short, slip-on jacket with blue and white stripes, rather than the grey and white or black and white ordinarily worn, is trimmed with many pockets and designs in black braid...The most unusual part of this costume is the black garment worn over the striped trousers; it is very full in back, rather like bloomers. The ends of a striped red sash hang down at one side. Cotton shirt and trousers are the same as those worn every day, with possibly some additional decoration such as the purple band and banda at the bottom of the trousers shown in the illustration. The sandals with their various straps and buckles are an elaboration of the simple caite" (76).
The incorporation of European style into the native dress by recreating the style in the native manner of weaving and using native patterns is a trend that we see everywhere and is yet another demonstration of the integration of the two cultures while retaining traditional methods.
Book Title: Indian Costumes of Guatemala
Plate Number: Plate 23
Call Number: F1465.3.C8 W6