Otomi Textiles

We found these gorgeous Mexican bedspreads at Laviva Home and went searching for some more information. Handmade by Otomi Indians in Hidalgo, they're crafted from cotton muslin decorated in colorful embroidery. If you like Suzanis, but you're looking for something a little different, these are an interesting alternative. Prices hover around a few hundred dollars, which seems very reasonable to us considering the amount of handwork that went into each piece. We found a few more sources, listed below...

• Mexican Bedspreads from Laviva Home, $325
• Otomi Fabric from Jacaranda Home, $265
• Mexican Textiles eBay Shop
• Mexican Textiles Museum Store and Gift Shop

Leah at More Ways to Waste Time pulled together a great post on Otomi textiles if you're looking for more sources, examples, and information. The University of Missouri also features an online collection of Otomi cutouts with explanations of the symbolism underlying these designs.

Comments (4)

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posted by janel on March 26th 2009 at 6:14pm
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Wow - I don't care much for Suzanis, but these I find much more beautiful.

Please - More posts about handmade/ethnic goods!

posted by bepsf on March 26th 2009 at 6:20pm
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I second bepsf! So many cultures create amazing embroideries and textiles that it would be nice to learn about/promote cooperatives that provide an outlet and fair prices for craftspersons.

posted by jacasi on March 26th 2009 at 10:27pm
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Thanks for posting this! I was actually looking for a source for Oaxacan textiles recently.

posted by arroyo on March 27th 2009 at 12:29am
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