"When that 'little black dress' is not enough ... SHANGRILA!"
The Charmeuse Amarna Wrap (Quechquemitl)
Shangri-La has re-invented the ancient Quechquemitl from Mexico as our very own silk velvet "Amarna Wrap." We have modified and improved this originally simple garment, unique to the Sierra Norte de Puebla, a rugged, mountainous area of eastern Central Mexico, where the "Old Ways" are still preserved. Shangri-La is always pleased to offer our customers an ever increasing array of fine hand sewn silk velvet charmeuse ready wear garments, to fit your every need. Click here to see the full range of our available styles in the ready wear collection.
Click HERE to see a video clip from Shangri-La's Spring 2005 Fashion Show exhibit of many different ways to wear a ruana! Click HERE to see a video clip of You Min Gosline showing 20 different ways to wear a ruana!
In Codex Barbonicus, the corn deity Chicomecoatl is beautifully depicted wearing both a quechquemitl and the magnificent, towering amacalli paper headdress.
Prehispanic foods are prepared in prehispanic ways, using prehispanic condiments to produce prehispanic treats. The Sierra also has retained old textile practices: not only are women still weaving on prehispanic-style, back-strap looms, they are also still producing prehispanic-style garments almost identical to those that repeatedly appear on Aztec sculpture and in Aztec codices.
For example, a stone sculpture displayed in the Royal Academy's Aztec exhibit depicts the Aztec fertility goddess Chalchiuhlticue wearing a quechquemitl, the diagnostic apparel of Aztec female deities.
The quechquemitl also appears on female deities in the codices. The pulque goddess Mayahuel appears in Codex Magliabechiano wearing a quechquemitl.
Today, in the Sierra, native women still wear quechquemitl; one example is a Nahuatl-speaker who displays both a quechquemitl and a prehispanic-style headdress, topped by a second quechquemitl.
In contrast, prehispanic-style Ponchos have a 16" neck opening and Ruanas are unseamed all the way down the front half of the piece. The traditional way to wear the ancient Quechquemitl is with the "v" point in the front, but we have developed five other ways to wear it as the "Amarna Shawl."
1 - With the "v" high in the back and both ends hanging to one side, one to the front and the other to the back...
2 - With the "v" on the left shoulder and both ends hanging to one side, one to the front and the other to the back...
3 - With the "v" on the right shoulder and both ends hanging to one side, one to the front and the other to the back...
4 - With the "v" low in the back and both ends brought over the shoulders to the front... and ...
5 - With the "v" low in the front and both ends brought over the shoulders to the back.
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| Ruana | Poncho | Quechquemitl | Amarna Wrap |
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The famous artist Frida Kahlo was well known for her tendencies to wear native Mexican clothing as an expression of her personal politics. As an ardent nationalist, Frida wore the traditional dress of many regions in Mexico, including the prehispanic Quechquemitl. For fun, visit the Arizona State Museum website to dress Frida Kahlo in a Quechquemitl.
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Frida Kahlo, Painter
in a Quechquemitl (1931) Photo by Cunningham 
Also view our special collection of ancient Egyptian Pattern wearable art! |