The History of the Rebozo
Information provided from our supplier in Mexico
By rebozo weaving many of the ancient techniques have stayed alive to the present day culture. Rebozos are still woven by indigenous people in Mexico, and our rebozos are made by the Zapotec artisans. Rebozo can be seen as a symbol of the indigenous resistance, the capacity of adaptation and self sustainability, and as a tool to transmit and maintain local economy, cosmovision and traditions.
EL REBOZO
Rebozo is a handwoven shawl used in the Mesoamerican traditions for many purposes, and it’s a vital companion in different life transitions especially for the women. The journey together with the rebozo starts in Mexico as early as in the womb, as the mother uses it e.g. to cover herself, to tie the belly and to receive some manteadas, rebozo massages. Rebozo has been used traditionally also to massage and accommodate men and also men do give rebozo massages.
The rebozo that mostly is visible is the rebozo that’s used for everyday living. Usually it is used for covering the head from the sun and as a padding to carry baskets, to cover the shoulders from the wind and as a bag to carry products and children. People marry using a rebozo, people mourn using a rebozo, people dye using a rebozo and people are born to be wrapped in a rebozo. It is often given as a gift or as a heritage from the elders to the younger generations.
As it is part of everyday living it is part of traditional medicine as well. When you see a traditional midwife walking on the street, she might have a rebozo hanging on the shoulder and a few moments after she might be giving a rebozo massage to accommodate the baby inside a mother’s belly or to give a fertility treatment.
Festive and ceremonial rebozos are also used and are made with beautiful silk threads, feathers and more complex weaves to achieve a piece of art that is folded on one shoulder as a part of the festive outfit.
Woman with toddler in a rebozo, photo credits mexico en fotos
CULTURE AND ORIGIN
In the ancestral times people on the land of Mexico used to weave fabrics from local materials with a backstrap loom. In the old days, fabrics that were quite similar to the rebozo and with similar usage and were made from different local materials like ixtle, wool and native heritage cotton. There is historical evidence for example in various codexes, illustrating the Mesoamerican ancestral culture, about the use of mamatl, ayates and in some codex there can even be seen some fringes added to some of them.
Backstrap looms are widely used around Mexico. After the invasion new techniques, like the use of a pedal loom, and materials were introduced and later on fusioned in the making of the fabrics, and the rebozo as we know it, was born.
Pedal loom where we weave our Gracia rebozo collection. Photo credits Antama
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By rebozo weaving many of the ancient techniques have stayed alive to the present day culture. Rebozos are still woven by indigenous people in Mexico, and our rebozos are made by the Zapotec artisans. Rebozo can be seen as a symbol of the indigenous resistance, the capacity of adaptation and self sustainability, and as a tool to transmit and maintain local economy, cosmovision and traditions.
The Rebozo word itself comes from Spanish and in Mexico there are other words used for the rebozo type of fabrics in the indigenous culture and languages.
The traditional words in different indigenous languages mean like : "woman's veil" (ciua necuatlapacholoni - Nahuatl) and "fabric of thousand colors" (cenzotl - Nahuatl).
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There are many types of Rebozos in Mexico and each region has their own style of weaving them. The climate has affected the materials used in different regions; for example in Oaxaca's chilly mountains rebozos are traditionally made out of warm sheep wool, on the valleys they are made out of cotton and in towns with silk worms the rebozos are made out of beautiful silk combinations. ​​​
Rebozo is declared as a Mexican cultural heritage and symbol of Mexican identity. The use of rebozo was somewhat disappearing in the city cultures but there has been a large movement inside the country to take back the rebozo use also among the people living in cities. However, if you walk a little outside from Mexico City and especially in the rural areas, you will find out that the rebozo never disappeared and is strongly alive. Mexican fashion has also taken the rebozos as a part of the production and beautiful traditional rebozos with new designs and ideas are introduced to the public around the country.
Nowadays it gives a sustain for many hundreds of local families that have preserved the skills of weaving. Rebozo is a big part of Mexican culture and has inspired many painters, musicians and poets throughout history. Rebozo festivals and exhibitions are organized in different parts of the country.
Parteras of Michoacán. Photo credit Javier Guerrero