Purple Handwoven Mask

As the pandemic took hold and tourism suddenly stopped, the Tixinda Weaving Cooperative of Pinotepa de Don Luis, Oaxaca, Mexico, lost outlets for cloth sales. The group pivoted to fashioning face masks from their iconic Mixtec backstrap-woven fabrics of purple cotton with brocaded designs. Patrice Perillie, Director of the community organization Mexican Dreamweavers, helped the weavers reach buyers near and far by. This example with bird motifs was woven and stitched by Teofila Avendaño Lopez, vice-president of the Cooperative.

Teofila Avendaño Lopez, Mexico

2020

Designed in Pinotepa de Don Luis, Oaxaca, Mexico

Made in Pinotepa de Don Luis, Oaxaca, Mexico

Handwoven cotton

Royal Ontario Museum
2021.25.9