Cleveland Museum of Art

Woman’s Two-Piece Dress (Biil’éé)

Date

c. 1880–85

Medium

Wool: tapestry weave

Culture

Native North America, Southwest, Diné (Navajo)

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

According to D. Y. Begay, the contemporary Diné (Navajo) weaver, every Diné woman should own a bill’éé (dress), which holds spiritual power, confers protection, encodes stories about the aesthetic of Diné culture, and ensures her place in society. This example is made of two matching panels attached on the sides and shoulders, a type that developed from single-panel dresses in the late 1700s. Originally gathered at the waist with a woven belt, the dresses also can be cinched with silver concha belts of Diné creation. Today, the bill’éé continues to respond to fashion trends and is worn on special occasions.

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