The Making of Contemporary Mexican Textiles: Dialogues between Tradition and Design

The growing popularity of traditional textiles, or Indigenous weavings, has brought textile tradition and contemporary design closer together over time, especially since the second half of the 20th century. The dynamics of this proximity have generated both challenges and opportunities with damaging and beneficial consequences for weaving communities and the continuity of textile tradition. In this regard, there is the need for an ethical approach in order to counter harmful practices and expand the repertoire of opportunities for weaving communities and textile tradition. Drawing on testimonies of weavers and embroiderers from Oaxaca, Tlaxcala, and Chiapas, Mexico, this paper focuses on the possibility of a respectful relationship between textile tradition and contemporary design, which encompasses material, creative and collaborative interactions. The purpose of this study is to better understand the scope of this notion of respect, the ways to ensure respectful practices around the confluence between textile tradition and contemporary design, as well as their impact on weaving communities.