Cuetzalan, in the Sierra Norte of Puebla, is a territory where Nahua and Totonac peoples
coexist, surrounded by mountains, coffee plantations, and constant mist.
One of the most distinctive elements of its dress is the white quexquémetl woven on
a backstrap loom, accompanied by black skirts and elaborate wool headdresses.
The region also works extensively with jonote, a fiber obtained from the bark of
certain trees. Traditionally used in the making of amate paper, jonote is also
used to produce ropes, rustic textiles, and various utilitarian objects.
Curiosity:
The Sunday market of Cuetzalan is one of
the most active in the Sierra Norte and continues to be a space where
traditional dress is part of everyday life.
Techniques
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Pepenado embroidery
A technique in which the thread is gathered or "pepened" thread by thread from the base fabric, creating highly detailed motifs with subtle relief without needing to mark the design beforehand. It is one of the most elaborate and characteristic techniques of the Sierra Norte de Puebla.
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Cross-stitch embroidery
X-shaped stitches arranged over the fabric weave, used to compose geometric, floral, and animal figures with precision and vivid color, highly representative of the Nahua textile identity of the region.