Nahuala. Nahuala is a large Quiche speaking town in the Department of Solola known for having “stubbornly resisted the encroachments of the outside world. For many years, Ladinos and foreigners were not permitted to enter Nahuala, and all attempts to buy town land or set up missions were rejected.” (Glassman, Guatemala Guide, p. 246) “Nahualá is located 19 miles from Sololá on the Pan American highway. Principal economic underpinnings are represented by agriculture and textile production. Other Nahualá products are grinding stones (metates), foot-loomed commercial-grade jaspe fabric and wooden masks, figures and furniture. Notable also are the many different styles of huipiles that are currently in use. The most popular huipil is made of three lienzos (panels), includes the "woven floor mat" design in the center, and the feathered serpent motif spanning the shoulders. Another style of daily use huipil features large stylized animal or human figures. Yet another three-lienzo huipil features the double-headed eagle motif in the central panel. “A practice unique to Nahualá is to intentionally let threads bleed onto the white base fabric. The custom dates back to the use of silk threads, a high cost "status" material whose colors ran. Brocading is now done with cotton, acrylic or rayon, which could easily be purchased colorfast, but some women prefer the smears of color that result from the un-fixed threads and may even blot on extra dye to heighten the effect. “A broad faja (sash) is backstrap woven with colorful supplementary weft brocade at both ends on a blue base with narrow red or magenta warp stripes.” (from Centro de Textiles Tradicionales Nim P’ot, see nimpot.com.)

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