Two Tehuana women from the state of Oaxaca, plate 14 from "Trajes Regionales Mexicanos" (Regional Mexican Dress)

Guatemalan artist Carlos Mérida was a prolific artist active in the Mexican artistic movements celebrating Indigenous communities and cultural dress. In the art publication Trajes Regionales Mexicanos [Regional Mexican Dress] Mérida interprets regional folkloric dress from across the country including Tehuanas, women from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Standard interpretations of the Tehuana’s traditional dress include a top known as a huipil, with intricate embroidered details along the neck and sleeve, and a floor-length breathable skirt. The Tehuana may also braid their hair with ribbons or have an elaborate lace headdress, as seen in the portraits of Frida Kahlo. In post-Revolutionary Mexico, the Indigenous communities often served as a symbol of the new nation, albeit still underserved. These communities’ dress continue to influence Chicano and Latino women’s fashion.