Those of you who have been to Oaxaca with me, or those who might have shopped in my store, or read a few entries in this blog, will know that I have a mild obsession with these embroidered aprons that form the traditional dress of many women in Zapotec villages in the Central Valley. Thus, I could not have been more thrilled to visit in the home workshop of a young woman from St Miguel de Valle who is one with her sewing machine and able to bang out all number of embroidered designs on these gingham aprons with their heavily pleated skirts. She tells us that the idea of embroidering peacocks, which now is a common design feature, was her idea (this is what the creative class and innovation looks like Zapotec style). She's 28 and has been embroidering since she was 14, so about half her life. An average apron takes her about two or three days to make. Here she is above with her mother in law and two very happy tourists modeling their new aprons.
Click here to see some other apron pics and you'll notice that styles have changed and the rufflier apron has replaced the simpler one.
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