We went to Amatenango in April 2003 to purchase a huipil. We drove into town, went into a tortilleria, and asked the owner if she knew anybody in town that had huipiles to sell. She went back to her bedroom and returned with a huipil that was a bit worn, but still in good condition. After we bought the huipil, we drove out to the highway to visit the pottery stalls. Outside the stalls, women were sitting and embroidering colorful blouses. Most blouses were works in progress, but one woman offered to take us to her house where she had a finished blouse to sell. While in our car, she noticed the huipil we had just purchased and asked where we had gotten it and how much it cost. We told her to guess the price, and she guessed the exact amount.
We parked outside the woman’s house compound, and she went inside for several minutes, returning with a beautiful blouse (that was definitely NOT made for everyday wear) and a very fine huipil. We bought both garments. She informed us that now we needed the skirt and belt, but we were out of spesos, and promised to return another day.
We have read that the men of Amatenango have abandoned their traditional costumes, and almost no men or boys are seen in the village. They go to Teopisca, San Cristobal, or other places to find work. The women stay in town and run the ceramics
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