Sarape

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A 'sarape' is a colorful garment worn by the peoples of Mexico,Central and South America. The traditional serape is made in the Mexican state of Coahuila in north-eastern Mexico. The serapes,blankets and numerous other textile products are brightly adorned in with mixed color bands of yellows,oranges,reds,blues,greens,purple or any other bright color.The ends of the textile product is usually fringed. New products can be purchased or vintage products collected for their beauty and craftsmanship.The Saltillo textiles are made by local women and men whose decendants trace back to the early Chichimecs, who migrated from Northern Mexico(Chihuahua;Casa Grande area) to Central Mexico(San Luis Potosi area of the Gulf Coast).

In Guatemala, Sarape refers to a rectangular rough wool blanket –very itchy against the skin- with an opening in the middle where the wearer inserts its head. Some Sarapes are made with matching hoods for head covering. The length varies but front and back normally reach knee height on an average person. You could find them in various colors and design patterns but the most normal colors are two tone combinations of either black, grey, brown, or tan, pertaining to the natural color of the sheep flocks grown in the highland regions, not requiring tint. Most design patterns are large with traditional Mayan motives. Interestingly, this is not a typical garment for the Mayan highland people, who wear different clothing on cold regions. The sarape is more of an imitation of the Mexican Poncho with a Mayan twist and their elaboration is specifically to sale to foreigners or city dwellers who feel attracted to the garment as a useful warm souvenir of the Guatemalan highlands. The sale of Sarapes goes through a broker process, where the Mayan families, who depend mostly of agricultural work, manufacture in small quantities to add additional income to their families, meeting the orders of brokers, who later display the Sarapes at a higher price on local markets or the side of Highland roads through improvise huts. Brokers are normally also Mayan people with intuitive business skills and the money to invest. The appeal of the Sarape may consist in the fact that these are woven by Mayan families –women normally- in their traditional house looms given the Sarape a handmade finish look.