It's heartbreaking to see such a beautiful tradition endangered by fast fashion. Would that I could commission the entire population of Mayan weavers to make traditional fabrics for the rest of their lives. I can't even fathom the labor and love that goes into this work, it's fabulous and so, so valuable, in its own right and as artifacts of a fading culture.
Thanks for sharing these stories. These persons/artisans are very intelligent indeed- what intricate designs they memorize. I has been a very important intervention that foreigners found a way to help them commercialize their beautiful art! They helped them survive. I am very touched by these documentaries. Perhaps they could set a time -during vacations - to teach their children their traditions, it would be terrible that all the knowledge they have would be lost! Have them learn and do some projects. The knowledge will stay with them all their lives. I love to see their smiles, enjoying what they do and wear.
A Report on the century of colour documentary on the Maya Civilisation’s weaving and textiles This is an excellent recap of all the techniques used to hand weave the textiles, which used Gustavus Eisen's 1902 collection of photographs and textiles to display the history of textiles made in the society which populated the Yucatan Peninsula for thousands of years. Through the use of strings, wooden paddles and many more exciting equipment the Mayan people designed and created tools to assist them in their handmade weaving of textiles. Modern day techniques even use umbrella spikes to weave their magic on various pieces of thread to create the most amazing tapestries. The vital importance of the textiles in the culture is another feature of the documentary that I really enjoyed. However, I connected with this report on a different level, as it also showed the impact of the Spanish colonialisation on the Guatemalan nationals and their textile making; the colourful and vibrant textiles were restricted during these times due to the lack of gold and silver threads. This provided a change in style from the Mayan textiles although their designs were just as enthralling to look at and wear. The Mayan people adapted well during this time and continued with their wavy patterns but just with the colour dyes that they could access during this terrible period. The modern-day problem of cheaper western clothes was also highlighted, this has been damaging for the Mayan weaving and textiles industry as the more labour intensive and expensive handwoven clothes have gone out of fashion. There is also the issue in the modern day of Mayan men being racially abused about wearing their traditional clothes, this additionally caused more Mayans in the modern world to go away from using the textiles from their heritage and instead have preference to ones with less culture. In the face of adversity the Mayan people never quit whether they were taken over from the Spanish or 5 points behind Cheltenham they always stayed strong and kept making hand woven textiles. It was incredible to see how in this documentary a group of individuals can be so strong together even if the men didn’t bother making the textiles themselves, I am sure they provided plenty of support and encouragement to their families and partners such weaving hours. Overall this documentary did provide me with a certain level of entertainment, learning about how the Mayan people kept their creativity and special talents going such hardship was always as enthralling as learning about the actual hand weaving techniques themselves. 4 stars **** Would maybe watch again although consuming a bowl of spaghetti Bolognese is not advised if you would also like to drink 6 pints of milk during the video. Sources: Century of Colour: Maya Weaving & Textiles (English) ua-cam.com/video/Ehwx_ZGXcVY/v-deo.html
I did Mayan weaving in Quetazltenango a few years ago. When I say did weaving I only did the steps of actually putting the fabric through the warp. There is a good reason people are taught very young it is a very complicated and time consuming process to set up the loom. And just the portion I did was very difficult. I have so much respect for the people who do this for their livelihood!!!
Watching how confident they are changing sheds, beating down, throwing the shuttle, etc. you can see their experience. People who do not do hand work for hours a day don’t realize how much hands learn. They tell you what is needed.
Fascinating, inspiring and educational! In 1980 I spent three months backpacking through the Yucatan, Belize and Guatemala. Love the Guatemalan textiles. This video mentions a few of the regions we visited and brings back a lot of memories. I had purchased several pieces, as well as a hammock, to bring home. Sadly, on the return flight it was all stolen. I do have a few small pieces I had in my carry-on bag.
24:04 All those ... is there any videos on YT that demonstrate HOW to use all these things. Here, it's a whirlwind of motion, and regardless my knowhow of weaving, I just cannot wrap my head around how and what they're doing. I envy their speed at both what they're doing AND how fast they succeed in making my eyes fall out!!!
aww I loveeeee this I'm Guatemalan but born in US I always wanted to learn this I wish there was videos that will teach the beautiful my an textiles and art. thanks for posting this 😊!
Shout out to TACTIC @ 9:54! My mother lived in Tactic when she was in the Peace Corps doing public health nursing from 1992-1994 (when she was in her mid-50s!) and really enjoyed living in rural Guatemala. She always had a huge interest in textiles, and was so happy that her PC assignment was in Guatemala so she could indulge in her passion for these beautiful textiles. She collected a number of them, and I have several in my home.
In order to preserve the techniques alive, they could focus on making tapestry instead of clothing, as that has more commercial value (internationally, at least). They could sell for a much higher price and this way help to support their families without so many struggles.
Appreciate these videos yet once again they're profiting from Mayan weavers who should be paid every time the video is viewed.... were the weavers compensated for appearing in this video and the work they created?
I appreciate these videos yet once again they're profiting from Mayan weavers who should be paid every time this video is viewed.... were the weavers compensated for appearing in this video and the work they created?
I really love this!! But I was just wondering, even though Mayan women and girls do the weaving, I think it would be cool if Mayan men and boys did the weaving as well. Why? Because I believe that knitting and crocheting and sewing and weaving should be for everybody!! Not just women and girls!! So come everybody! Get your weave, knit, crochet, and sewing on! Even if you are boys!! Update: I just found out that some Mayan men did do some weaving!!! That's good!! Now there should be more of those men weaving!!
Mayan men do weave though. It shows that men use the floor looms and women the backstrap and not uncommon to find the other way. I agree I wish all genders and cultures all people learned fiber arts. I personally know how to crochet, knit, sew, spin yarn and hope to learn weaving soon
Yup, in some regions/villages, men and boys DO weave on large treadle looms. Men also knit/crochet in some villages (Solola is a great example); specifically they make the wool shoulder bags and "knee blankets" (short "aprons" from waist to above the knee) they traditionally wear every day.
In rural Maine, at a thrift store, i just purchased a cotton dress that is Guatamalan. $10 and i feel like a queen. So much power and joy in this fabric! I wanted to learn what the pattern is and what a rabbithole I'm in!!!! So sad to hear old timers say to kids "its hard work, i want you to get an education instead." And thats how the industrialists win. Any sources to patterns?
i would love to know how to weave as its such a beautiful thing to learn and I dare say you still can make garments and clothing now its so nice and colourful and it would be good for youre mentle health
those weavers may not be able to do regular math but they could tell you how much yarn they need for any project, formal education is useful but so is other knowledge. oh and its called being and artist, you use whatever techniques that fulfill your idea, be it by hand, on a floor loom, brocade, embroidered by hand, or machine.
You use the words embroidery and weaving but what you really mean is the most difficult skill of all: tapestry. When the women are weaving multicolored flowers on looms, they are actually making small tapestries.
can it be a way that this colorful traditions dont get lost , so if they use the ideas of the indigenous and hire them and weave the designs for industrial machines that could make this kind of fabric so the indigenous could still be dressing in their traditional colors at cheapest price
Obviously you're missing the point of saving traditional skills! The world is already bursting at the seams with "cheap as possible" industrial replicas of such wonderful ancient skills./ A much better plan is to do away with all the cheap mass-produced synthetic tat, so that techniques and products that have true value, can continue to provide a living for these artisans.
It's heartbreaking to see such a beautiful tradition endangered by fast fashion. Would that I could commission the entire population of Mayan weavers to make traditional fabrics for the rest of their lives. I can't even fathom the labor and love that goes into this work, it's fabulous and so, so valuable, in its own right and as artifacts of a fading culture.
Beautiful and informative documentary. So inspired by this creative and resilient peoples.
Thank you for showing our beautiful community's work.
Please prrovide sources where I can support your community and your traditional weaving.
Thanks for sharing these stories. These persons/artisans are very intelligent indeed- what intricate designs they memorize. I has been a very important intervention that foreigners found a way to help them commercialize their beautiful art! They helped them survive. I am very touched by these documentaries. Perhaps they could set a time -during vacations - to teach their children their traditions, it would be terrible that all the knowledge they have would be lost! Have them learn and do some projects. The knowledge will stay with them all their lives. I love to see their smiles, enjoying what they do and wear.
They dont have vacations! Poverty doesnt allow that.
Wonderful art thank you for bringing it to us. Maya people should be protected from such injustice by government laws
Wow - Absolutely Amazing - Pure of the purest craft imaginable - Thank You - -!!
Totally - 5 Stars - Documentary -
Thank you for your comments. KMV
A Report on the century of colour documentary on the Maya Civilisation’s weaving and textiles
This is an excellent recap of all the techniques used to hand weave the textiles, which used Gustavus Eisen's 1902 collection of photographs and textiles to display the history of textiles made in the society which populated the Yucatan Peninsula for thousands of years. Through the use of strings, wooden paddles and many more exciting equipment the Mayan people designed and created tools to assist them in their handmade weaving of textiles. Modern day techniques even use umbrella spikes to weave their magic on various pieces of thread to create the most amazing tapestries.
The vital importance of the textiles in the culture is another feature of the documentary that I really enjoyed.
However, I connected with this report on a different level, as it also showed the impact of the Spanish colonialisation on the Guatemalan nationals and their textile making; the colourful and vibrant textiles were restricted during these times due to the lack of gold and silver threads. This provided a change in style from the Mayan textiles although their designs were just as enthralling to look at and wear. The Mayan people adapted well during this time and continued with their wavy patterns but just with the colour dyes that they could access during this terrible period.
The modern-day problem of cheaper western clothes was also highlighted, this has been damaging for the Mayan weaving and textiles industry as the more labour intensive and expensive handwoven clothes have gone out of fashion. There is also the issue in the modern day of Mayan men being racially abused about wearing their traditional clothes, this additionally caused more Mayans in the modern world to go away from using the textiles from their heritage and instead have preference to ones with less culture.
In the face of adversity the Mayan people never quit whether they were taken over from the Spanish or 5 points behind Cheltenham they always stayed strong and kept making hand woven textiles. It was incredible to see how in this documentary a group of individuals can be so strong together even if the men didn’t bother making the textiles themselves, I am sure they provided plenty of support and encouragement to their families and partners such weaving hours.
Overall this documentary did provide me with a certain level of entertainment, learning about how the Mayan people kept their creativity and special talents going such hardship was always as enthralling as learning about the actual hand weaving techniques themselves.
4 stars ****
Would maybe watch again although consuming a bowl of spaghetti Bolognese is not advised if you would also like to drink 6 pints of milk during the video.
Sources: Century of Colour: Maya Weaving & Textiles (English)
ua-cam.com/video/Ehwx_ZGXcVY/v-deo.html
so beautiful our crafts and our world. HUGS and LOVE. this is luxury cloth!
I did Mayan weaving in Quetazltenango a few years ago. When I say did weaving I only did the steps of actually putting the fabric through the warp. There is a good reason people are taught very young it is a very complicated and time consuming process to set up the loom. And just the portion I did was very difficult. I have so much respect for the people who do this for their livelihood!!!
Sad to see their beautiful weaving traditions diminish. It’s so beautiful and inspiring
Watching how confident they are changing sheds, beating down, throwing the shuttle, etc. you can see their experience. People who do not do hand work for hours a day don’t realize how much hands learn. They tell you what is needed.
Fascinating, inspiring and educational! In 1980 I spent three months backpacking through the Yucatan, Belize and Guatemala. Love the Guatemalan textiles. This video mentions a few of the regions we visited and brings back a lot of memories. I had purchased several pieces, as well as a hammock, to bring home. Sadly, on the return flight it was all stolen. I do have a few small pieces I had in my carry-on bag.
Thank you for your comment. Kathleen
Perhaps you should make a documentary.
24:04
All those ... is there any videos on YT that demonstrate HOW to use all these things. Here, it's a whirlwind of motion, and regardless my knowhow of weaving, I just cannot wrap my head around how and what they're doing.
I envy their speed at both what they're doing AND how fast they succeed in making my eyes fall out!!!
aww I loveeeee this I'm Guatemalan but born in US I always wanted to learn this I wish there was videos that will teach the beautiful my an textiles and art. thanks for posting this 😊!
Thanks for your comment. Stay tuned. More is coming......... Kathleen
You can pay for training at San Juan la Laguna Atitlan. Very Peaceful....
Shout out to TACTIC @ 9:54! My mother lived in Tactic when she was in the Peace Corps doing public health nursing from 1992-1994 (when she was in her mid-50s!) and really enjoyed living in rural Guatemala. She always had a huge interest in textiles, and was so happy that her PC assignment was in Guatemala so she could indulge in her passion for these beautiful textiles. She collected a number of them, and I have several in my home.
Were weavers paid the actual worth of the textiles they created?
I see SOOO many clothing ideas it's almost painful!!!! I want to go warp my loom right now and make some of these.
Did you ever actually make anything inspired by the video?
Thank you! This is a very important and vital informational video. Gracias y maltioox
Beautiful
In order to preserve the techniques alive, they could focus on making tapestry instead of clothing, as that has more commercial value (internationally, at least). They could sell for a much higher price and this way help to support their families without so many struggles.
Appreciate these videos yet once again they're profiting from Mayan weavers who should be paid every time the video is viewed.... were the weavers compensated for appearing in this video and the work they created?
Please provide sources where we can purchase and aupport this amazing traditional weaving tradition.
I was looking for the same, would love to purchase an outfit
I appreciate these videos yet once again they're profiting from Mayan weavers who should be paid every time this video is viewed.... were the weavers compensated for appearing in this video and the work they created?
I really love this!! But I was just wondering, even though Mayan women and girls do the weaving, I think it would be cool if Mayan men and boys did the weaving as well. Why? Because I believe that knitting and crocheting and sewing and weaving should be for everybody!! Not just women and girls!! So come everybody! Get your weave, knit, crochet, and sewing on! Even if you are boys!!
Update: I just found out that some Mayan men did do some weaving!!! That's good!! Now there should be more of those men weaving!!
Mayan men do weave though. It shows that men use the floor looms and women the backstrap and not uncommon to find the other way. I agree I wish all genders and cultures all people learned fiber arts. I personally know how to crochet, knit, sew, spin yarn and hope to learn weaving soon
@@indigenousspinster_6665 I agree as well!
The video:showed a man at the age of 60 weaving. He’s been weaving since he was 8 I believe.
Yup, in some regions/villages, men and boys DO weave on large treadle looms. Men also knit/crochet in some villages (Solola is a great example); specifically they make the wool shoulder bags and "knee blankets" (short "aprons" from waist to above the knee) they traditionally wear every day.
In rural Maine, at a thrift store, i just purchased a cotton dress that is Guatamalan. $10 and i feel like a queen.
So much power and joy in this fabric! I wanted to learn what the pattern is and what a rabbithole I'm in!!!!
So sad to hear old timers say to kids "its hard work, i want you to get an education instead."
And thats how the industrialists win.
Any sources to patterns?
i would love to know how to weave as its such a beautiful thing to learn and I dare say you still can make garments and clothing now its so nice and colourful and it would be good for youre mentle health
those weavers may not be able to do regular math but they could tell you how much yarn they need for any project, formal education is useful but so is other knowledge. oh and its called being and artist, you use whatever techniques that fulfill your idea, be it by hand, on a floor loom, brocade, embroidered by hand, or machine.
You use the words embroidery and weaving but what you really mean is the most difficult skill of all: tapestry. When the women are weaving multicolored flowers on looms, they are actually making small tapestries.
Guatemalan weaving features both embroidery and tapestry weaving, depending on the tradition of the weaver's village
what was that head scarf that the men wear? is that a regular head scarf or does that have a special name?
can it be a way that this colorful traditions dont get lost , so if they use the ideas of the indigenous and hire them and weave the designs for industrial machines that could make this kind of fabric so the indigenous could still be dressing in their traditional colors at cheapest price
Obviously you're missing the point of saving traditional skills!
The world is already bursting at the seams with "cheap as possible" industrial replicas of such wonderful ancient skills./
A much better plan is to do away with all the cheap mass-produced synthetic tat, so that techniques and products that have true value, can continue to provide a living for these artisans.
schoolwork any1?