Cirila Aragón Cortés

Three Generations Weaving the Threads of Love in Hueyapan

In Hueyapan, Morelos, in Mexico, three generations of women—Cirila Aragón Cortés, her daughter Margarita Torres, and her granddaughter Paloma Pérez—carry on the Náhuatl weaving traditions of their ancestors. Known as "Las Gabaneras de Hueyapan," they transform natural wool and plant-based dyes into intricate textiles like gabanes, rebozos, and quechquemitls. These pieces, made on backstrap looms, represent their community's identity and the enduring connection between women, nature, and art.

Cirila’s work begins with the land, using dyes derived from flowers such as cempasúchil, pericón, and grana cochinilla. The bright colors are a tribute to the environment which inspires her designs: the blue skies, green forests, and blooming flowers of Hueyapan. Each textile is created with respect for nature and a commitment to preserving ancestral techniques. The process is labor-intensive, from dyeing the wool with natural pigments to weaving for weeks on inherited looms, and every piece reflects unparalleled craftsmanship and heart.

Through their collective, Cozamalotl (meaning “rainbow” in Náhuatl), Cirila and her family empower local women by teaching them traditional techniques and providing opportunities to share their art at national and international fairs. This intergenerational bond is vital to ensuring the survival of their art, even as synthetic materials and modern challenges threaten its continuity. For Cirila, every thread woven is a prayer, a celebration, and a legacy for her family and community.