The Iconic Traditional Dress & Proud Spirit Of Las Mujeres Tehuanas

Photos by remarkable photographer Diego Huerta, who captures the beauty and spirit of Mexico's indigenous people.
El traje Tehuana is one of the most celebrated and iconic traditional dresses of Mexico.
Las mujeres Tehuanas are Zapotec, "people of the clouds", an indigenous culture of Oaxaca. Specifically, las Tehuanas are a matriarchal society based in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, which means "wild animal hill", a name given to the region by the Aztecs in honor of the fierce Zapotec warriors.
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Tehuana women are famously independent. Women exclusively run the local marketplaces, which offer textiles, handmade jewelry, folk art, and even iguana tamales.
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View this post on InstagramJuchitán de Zaragoza, Oaxaca. - Resplandor Iguana. - Yes, this is México.
Traditional Tehuana dress consists of a shirt, called a huipil, a full skirt, and, for special occasions, a large white headdress called a resplandor.
The huipil and skirt are known for their vibrant colors and exquisite floral and geometric embroidery.
Tehuanas wear their hair in braids adorned with ribbons and flowers.
And the outfit is not complete without an elaborate choker made of coins and gold filigree.
The most famous Tehuana is Juana Cata, head of Porfirio Díaz's intelligence and his lover of 40 years.
But perhaps the most famous wearer of the Tehuana traje is Frida Kahlo, whose mother was born and raised in Oaxaca.
View this post on Instagram"Autorretrato". (1948) #FridaKahlo #Art #Painter #Mexico #Legend #Painting #Artist #Instagram