Exhibition: Resistance and Resilience: The Weavers of Oaxaca — Opens

January 27, 2025–January 5, 2026
Gladys Marcus Library, Fifth Floor Gallery

“Weaving is not just an economic activity; it is a means through which Zapotec women express their cultural identity and maintain a connection to their ancestral heritage.” —from Lynn Stephen’s book, Zapotec Women

As you step into this exhibition, imagine walking through the vibrant villages of Oaxaca. Every home is filled with the clack of looms and the scent of natural dyes simmering over open fires. In these spaces, weaving is far more than craft; it is a way of life. Here, threads connect past and present, and each textile tells a story of resilience. For generations, the artisans of Oaxaca have woven their world into intricate patterns that speak of nature, ancestors, and community bonds. Their craft represents an unbroken line of knowledge passed down through centuries, each knot and dye preserving both their heritage and identity.

Today, this work faces new challenges. The same global markets that bring opportunity also demand compromise, pressuring artisans to adapt their traditional designs and methods to appeal to modern tastes and industrial efficiency. What was once woven for local use now finds itself at the crossroads of preservation and commodification, as artisans delicately balance their heritage with the demands of survival. Yet, these weavers resist, transforming their art into a quiet rebellion that continuously preserves cultural identity while navigating a rapidly changing world.

This exhibition explores the diversity of Oaxaca’s weaving traditions, encompassing techniques and designs from different regions of the state. The natural dyes featured in these textiles, drawn from plants, insects, and minerals, embody a deep relationship with the land and its ecosystems. However, these dyes are not inherently sustainable. Their reliance on nature’s cycles, and the ecosystems that support them, places them at risk—dependent on human practices that must prioritize balance, preservation, and systemic care. The relationship between artisans and the natural world is one of both beauty and fragility, reminding us that such resources require thoughtful stewardship.

Through these curated images, textiles, and garments, you’ll witness how weaving has become a tool for empowerment and collective action. Beyond its economic role, weaving fosters community resilience and solidarity, offering a platform for addressing broader social and environmental challenges. Each piece reflects the intricate patterns of adaptation, creativity, and pride that define Oaxaca’s artisans and their enduring traditions.

This exhibition invites you to honor these weavers as cultural keepers and storytellers, preserving their heritage one thread at a time. It is a call to recognize the resilience of their practices and the shared responsibility to support their continued legacy, ensuring their artistry and stories enrich generations to come.

Visual Ethnographers: Professor Souzeina Mushtaq, Communication and Media Studies, University of Wisconsin–River Falls
Professor Praveen K. Chaudhry, Global Fashion Management and Social Sciences, FIT

Project Research Assistant: Isabela Crane-Rodriguez, FIT

Curator: Professor Kyunghee Pyun, History of Art, FIT

Advisors: Professor Mónica Mendoza Bravo, Chair, Global Fashion Management, CENTRO, Mexico City
Professor Alberto Robles Estrella, Fashion and Textile Design, CENTRO, Mexico City

This exhibition is dedicated to Pamela Ellsworth, chair of the Global Fashion Management program.

Resistance and Resilience: The Weavers of Oaxaca is sponsored and supported by the Presidential Scholars Program, Dean, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Department of Social Sciences, Department of Global Fashion Management, Office of the International Programs, and Department of Global Fashion Management, Centro, Mexico City. Co-sponsored by the FIT Library.

This exhibition is for the FIT community only.