one of two huipil panels, unknown maker from Guatemala

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The huipil is a folk textile common throughout Mexico and Central America. A straight-sided, slipover garment can be made by folding and sewing together the sides of the woven panels, leaving room for the arms. A slit cut into the top makes room for the head.
Wild silk (tussah) is taken from wild silkworms that feed on oak or cherry trees rather than the mulberry trees on which cultivated silkworms feed. The brownish silk filament is three times the thckness of the cultivated filament and is quite slubby, varying marketly in thickness. This variation and the bright dye colors give this simple garment a lively appearance.