Guatemalan women from highland villages San Pedro Sacatepequez and San Juan Sacatepeq…, 1947 (photo)

Guatemalan women from highland villages San Pedro Sacatepequez and San Juan Sacatepequez wearing traditional shawls aka huipils. Huipil is the most common traditional garment worn by indigenous women from central Mexico to Central America. It is a loose-fitting tunic, generally made from two or three rectangular pieces of fabric, which are then joined with stitching, ribbons, or fabric strips, with an opening for the head and, if the sides are sewn, openings for the arms. Traditional huipils, especially ceremonial ones, are usually made with fabric woven on a backstrap loom and are decorated with designs woven into the fabric, embroidery, ribbons, lace, and more. Photo by Luis Marden