Art Institute of Chicago

Man's Sarape (Wearing Blanket)

Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico

Date

1800–50

Medium

Cotton and wool, slit and single dovetail tapestry weave; edged with cotton, knotted fringe

Culture

Saltillo

Department

Textiles

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Produced in northern Mexico using a combination of Indigenous and foreign weaving materials and techniques, the man’s wearing blanket—also known as a sarape —was a highly valued and versatile garment. Wrapped around the body like a shawl or folded and draped over one shoulder, sarapes were also used as blankets and provided protection from the weather. Made with native, undyed, hand-spun cotton and dyed churro wool from imported sheep, sarapes are soft, light, strong, and warm. With their bold designs and brilliant colors, sarapes became a symbol of Mexican identity following the Mexican Revolution.

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