Mexican Indigenous Textiles, A vanishing tradition

www.mexicantextiles.com

The mission of Mexican Textiles, a vanishing tradition is to educate the public about Mexican Indian costume, textiles, culture and traditions. It is originally based on a collection of Mexican Indian costumes collected over the course of 30 years. The project has been expanded to include the documentation of the current state of Mexican Indian Textiles. The educational goal of the organization is to make available information that is, interesting, informative and accurate, in a graphic format of the internet.

As a presenter and demonstrator of these textiles I have had my works displayed at the San Francisco International Airport and the De Young Museum, I have conducted live fashion shows and done a variety of multi media presentations. Currently I have been used as a reference by the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples, while this is not a formal relationship it is developing.

I personally do most investigations, photography, graphics, editing, text writing, website page creation, up loading and all activities related to the generation of the web site. It is my life's work.

This web site is an educational project of the Hygeia Foundation for Health, Science and the Environment , there are costumes from villages representing the following cultures: Amuzgo, Zapotec of central valley of Oaxaca, Zapotec of Sierra Juarez, Zapotec of Isthmus, Nahua of Puebla, Nahua of Guerreo, Nahua of Vera Cruz, Nahua of Sierra of Puebla, Mixtec Lower, Mixtec Alta, Mixtec of Guerrero, Huave, Mixe, Chinantecos, Totzil, Maya, Purepecha, Tarumara, Otomi of Hidalgo, Otomi of the State of Mexico, Otomi of the State of Puebla, Mayo of Sonora , Huichol, , Mazatecas, Trique, Chatino, Totanaca and Mazahua. These examples are by no means all the textiles but are good examples of men and women in traditional costumes, festivals, markets, maps, handicrafts and other traditions. It is a rainbow of embroidered or woven cotton and wool costumes presented here as an on line museum. Not all costumes are hand woven or embroidered there are many elegant types of costumes that represent specific villages that are a wonderful combination of lace and store bought cloth wrought into spectacular distinctive costumes.

As the project moves beyond the collection it will include additional villages and indigenous groups. Addition feature to be added this year are:

Goals fro 2006

1. Create a uniform gallery page 2x4 images with narrative, google ads, donations button and links to Museum store
2. Continue to develop the video blog on www.blip.tv
3. Add Cora, Huichol and Vera Cruz Nahua
4. Add two participant two new participants who will include their textiles and narratives.
5 Expand other traditions web page.
6. Find sponsors or donors to help defer the costs of research and development.
7. Develop the Internet store and Mexican Textile collective stores.
8. Create educational programs and executive tours to defer costs .
9.Increase google Ad sense revenue by increasing visitor

The web site is like a book if no one knows it exists then it is of little value. With this in mind, an increasing larger percentage of time will be spent on popularizing the site. This is done by word of mouth, search engine optimization, presence in anthropology chat groups, links to University Anthology Departments, Collection and Indigenous portals on the internet, social organization such as the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the publication of articles in magazines and new letters and targeted paid advertisement.

The target user are students, anthologists, graphic artists, handicrafts buyers and textile collectors and those interested in understanding the cultural heritage of recent immigrants from Mexico to the US.

Success will be measures by the specific web statistics which include

1. Number of unique visitors

2. Number of repeat visitors

3. Total pages viewed

4. Number of linked pages to external sites

Contact Bob Freund La Joya 233 casa 8 Colonia Valle Escondido Tlalpan, D.F. Mexico 14600

Email bob@mexicantextiles.com or rfreund719@hotmail.com