Rare 1940s Mexican Embroidered Blouse | XS-L

This blouse is so special —although you will find reproductions, it's really rare to find these original midcentury Mexican embroidered blouses. This one was made by hand in Guadalajara in the 1940s (possibly early 1950s). I love the weight of the fabric: it's a pretty sturdy woven cotton, and it holds up against the slightly boxy shape. This is a great example of traditional Mexican embroidery style; it is a reinterpretation of the embroidery  commonly found on huipiles (traditional women's tunics). Some hallmarks of this style include the satin-stitched embroidery with red cotton thread, and a design that is horizontally mirrored on either side of the body. The depiction of birds and botanicals is a stylized representation of the somewhat universal "Tree of Life" motif, which speaks to the interconnectedness of  living things in the universe. This idea of the "World Tree" was integral to the cosmology of the Aztecs, Mayans, other ancient civilizations of Mexico. However, note that this piece was produced for export; in the 1940s and throughout the 1950s, Mexican-made (and eventually Mexican-inspired) fashion was extremely popular in the US, and thus Mexican artisans leaned into the craze by producing pieces that were easily worn Stateside. I note this specifically to tell you that wearing pieces like this are NOT an appropriation their culture's traditional dress. The blouse features darts at the waist to give it a bit of shape and hook closures down the front. The vintage woven miniskirt and scarab bracelet pictured are also available.

Great vintage condition, with some minor wear commensurate with age, including one minor blemish on the back of sleeve. With any questions about the specific condition or size, please email shop@verybreezy.com for additional photos or measurements, as all sales are final.

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