Zapotec Weaving

The Zapotec weavers of southern Mexico are descendants of one of the fifteen known Pre-Hispanic Indian cultures of Mexico. If you ask a Zapotec Indian how long his family has lived in the Valley of Oaxaca, he will stay, Siempre (always). The valley, hidden by volcanic mountain ranges, is home to a rich and productive agrarian culture that is largely isolated to trade. This combination has produced a culture with a unique and special dedication to the art of weaving.

The Zapotec Indians were weavers of cotton for generations before the Spanish brought wool into the area. In 1548, Father Juan Lopen Zarate introduced sheeps wool to the area, and the first woolen articles were woven on hip looms. By 1568, European shuttle looms and spinning wheels were in use. Thus, the weaving of hats, belts, and baskets using cotton, agave fiber (cactus), and horsehair gave way to wool weavings. The Zapotecs eagerly embraced this new medium as a showcase for their creativity and skill. The technology used today is identical to that employed in the 16th century. Zapotec weavings are a continuation of artisan traditions rather than a revival of a lost art.