The capes, also known as capas or quechquemitls, featured here come from the highlands of Michoacán in central Mexico. This collection was sourced in the town of Uruapan, home to the largest craft market in Latin America where artisans from Michoacán’s Indigenous Purépecha, Mazahua, Otomí and Nahua communities come each year to sell their work.

The capes are one of Mexico’s most sacred pre-Hispanic garments. Traditionally reserved for noblewomen and priestesses in ancient Mesoamerica, it was worn as a symbol of status, divinity and grace. Quechquemitls appear in Mayan, Toltec and Aztec sculptures and drawings of female deities, reflecting their deep cultural and spiritual significance.

Handwoven from thick cotton yarns, these pieces feature intricate woven patterns and are finished with colourful borders, hand-knotted fringing and tassels. While they have evolved over centuries, Purépecha weavers continue to reimagine the original design into modern, vibrant, wearable capes while preserving their characteristic shape.