Mayan dyeing techniques
Take a look to the process:
At Trama Textiles, each thread we weave is more than just material—it is heritage, identity, and resistance. Our textiles carry ancient knowledge rooted in Mayan natural dyeing and Jaspe (Ikat) techniques, still practiced by our cooperative of indigenous women across the highlands of Guatemala.
These techniques are an integral part of the storytelling embedded in our work, where every color and every pattern holds cosmic, spiritual, and cultural meaning.
Natural Dyes: Coloring with Purpose
Mayan communities have long used natural dyes derived from plants, seeds, minerals, and insects to create vivid, symbolic palettes. These earth-based pigments are non-toxic, sustainable, and deeply symbolic:
Cochineal – reds and pinks from the nopal cactus insect
Indigo (Jiquilite) – traditional blues from fermented leaves
Achiote (Annatto) – golden oranges used in rituals and food
Avocado seeds and tree bark – earthy browns and soft greens
Pericón (Tagetes lucida) – vibrant yellow from wild marigold flowers
Palo de Campeche (Haematoxylum campechianum) – one of the most important dye woods in the Americas, its heartwood has been used since pre-Columbian times to produce deep red, purple, and even black tones depending on pH and mordants used.
These dyes are extracted through careful boiling and fermentation processes. The yarn is first prepared with a mordant—like ash, lime, or banana peels—to help the fibers absorb and fix the natural pigments.
For Mayan weavers, dyeing is not just a technique—it is ceremony, intention, and cultural continuity.
✧ Jaspe: The Sacred Geometry of Ikat
The Jaspe technique (known globally as Ikat) is one of the most intricate and revered forms of pre-dyeing in Mayan weaving. It involves:
Resist-dyeing: Yarn is tightly bound with natural fibers or plastic strips to resist dye in specific areas.
Precision coloring: The exposed parts are dyed, creating patterns that will only fully emerge during weaving.
Mathematical weaving: When the dyed yarn is placed on the backstrap loom, the colors align into complex symbolic patterns—depicting elements like birds, serpents, plants, or sacred geometry.
Each Jaspe design requires impressive foresight, spatial awareness, and oral tradition passed from generation to generation. It is a woven language that holds mythology, identity, and resistance within its threads.
✧ Sustainability, Storytelling & Cultural Resilience
Both the natural dyeing process and Jaspe embody the Mayan commitment to living in harmony with the Earth. They use local resources responsibly, avoiding synthetic chemicals while transmitting sacred knowledge through textile design.
In doing so, our weavers are not only artisans—they are guardians of ancestral science and cosmology.
When you purchase or wear a piece created with these methods, you are supporting indigenous-led sustainability, fair trade, and cultural preservation.
✧ Experience It With Us
At Trama Textiles, we invite visitors and volunteers to experience these techniques firsthand through our workshops and classes. You will learn to dye cotton with Palo de Campeche, Pericón, Indigo, and more—while deepening your understanding of how the Mayan cosmos and nature are reflected in every thread.
Whether you're joining us in Quetzaltenango or exploring our pieces online, you are becoming part of a living, resilient tradition of color, culture, and care.
