Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative
Tags Student Projects

The History of las Tehuanas

Research Projects

Marie Bordelon, a CNAIS 2024 concentrator, focused her capstone project on the revival of the Tehuana dress, a cherished facet of her Oaxacan heritage. Delving into Oaxaca's cultural commodification, Bordelon examined the history of las Tehuanas, the traditional attire of the Binnizá (her community in Mexico). With its iconic elements like the "resplandor" headdress and distinctive huipil, the dress embodies tribal identity and a sense of place. Bordelon's project involved crafting her own modern interpretation of the dress, aiming to reclaim its cultural essence.