EL TRAJE: Traditional Dress of Mayan Women

Across Guatemala, from the highlands of Totonicapán to the lakeshore of Santiago Atitlán, Maya women have worn traje—their traditional dress—for hundreds of years. Every region has its own version. Every village, its own style. And within each piece, the personal and the ancestral are woven together.

In San Juan La Laguna, the huipiles are bursting with vibrant sunflowers and birds. In Chichicastenango, deep reds dominate, inspired by the sacred color of life. In Nebaj, the designs are dense and geometric—echoes of ancient stelae. In Santiago Atitlán, birds with long necks glide across violet thread, symbols of the lake’s spirit and the women who protect it.

You can read a woman’s roots in what she wears. Her village, her community role, even her family’s story—sometimes stitched in subtle initials or hidden shapes—live in the folds of her corte (skirt), the wrap of her faja (belt), and the texture of her huipil (blouse).Traditional Maya women's dress, called "traje", is one of the most beautiful and symbolic forms of clothing in the world—rich in history, identity, and resilience. Each piece is handmade, often taking weeks or even months to complete, and is loaded with meaning. Take a closer look at the stitches.
Imagine the hands that made them.

And remember that for some people, getting dressed is an act of culture-keeping. Many women in Santiago Atitlán still wear traje every day—not as a costume or for tourists, but as their real, lived clothing. It’s not about nostalgia. It’s about pride and identity.

Portrait of Bernabela Sapalú by Petra Kleis, Copenhagen 2023.