Skirt

94.1201A

We especially enjoyed taking inventory photographs of this vibrant skirt from Chiapa de Corzo, a small city in the western center of the state of Chiapas, Mexico. The skirt is covered hem to waist with embroidered registers of bright, rainbow–hued flowers that jump from their black net backing. The skirt and a matching blouse were donated to Stanford by George A. Collier in 1987. He and his wife, Jane F. Collier, purchased the set in Chiapa de Corzo around 1973. This traditional ensemble is sized for a girl or young woman to wear during the Fiesta Grande de Enero (Great January Feast), which celebrates locally important Catholic saints. Textile arts have a deep history in Chiapas. The work has been integral to identity, community, economy, and religious observance since ancient times. Floral pieces like these are icons of these local artistic traditions. They also reflect generations of creativity and strategic adaptation to a globalizing market for arts and crafts. Although it features authentic designs of local flora, this skirt was industrially embroidered, rather than being embroidered by hand.

Processed Materials; Textile

North America; Mexico; Chiapas

ca. 1970

Collier Collection. Collected by George A. and Jane F. Collier in Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, Mexico, around 1973. Donated to Stanford University by George A. Collier in 1987.

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