The Washington times., 1917-03-28
GUATEMALA INDIAN
STYLES DAYS FAD
Maya Blanket Effects Predomi-
nate In Fabrics and Models
Now Popular.
ny MARGARET MASON.

by hAHGAHET mASONs
Maya, oh Maya, my Indian maid,
You put all the Paris bellies quite in
the shade;
Your colorful blanket so gaudy and
rich, ..-.-...
They've taken for mantles, skirts,
lining and sich;
And other new fashions now flicker
and fade
Before the gay garments by Indian
made.
NEW YORK, March 2s.-And now
Fashion has put the Indian sign on
US!
Seems sort of like taking candy
from a child to take our fashions
from the Indians, when about all the
poor things have to their backs is
blanket and a string of beads.
But OH these gorgeous hued blank
cts that the Maya Indians weave In
Guatemala are much too beautiful to
be wasted on the primitive Businesses
of Central America
The possibilities of an ordinary
blanket seem exhausted after you
have used 1t as covering for body, bed,
or horse. The possibilities OF the
Maya blankets, loosely woven of pure
2 wool and dyed in vivid and divers
stripes, are almost limitless.
The Mayas know how to make 'em,
but the fashion experts know how to
use 'em, as is evidenced by recent
showing OF. Maya models in famous
New YoIk and Philadelphia depart
ment store.
- ...-..- ,rt;ta and
bisque shantung are lined throughout
with the gorgeous Maya blankets
Beach and summer suits of white,
gray. and ecru silk have vivid Maya
blanket touches on collar, cuns,
pockets, and lapels. Sport skirts en-
tirely evolved from Maya blankets,
with their rainbow bars Of color,
make you long to be behind the bars.
Made on Hand Looms.
These blankets, as well as the en-
broideries, which resemble the primi-
tive embroideries of the Russian peas
ants, are all made by the Mayas on
hand looms and because the looms
are very narrow the blankets are all
made in half widths with a central
seam.
Next to the blankets as attractive
trimming touches the embroideries
find place and are used on costumes
in the same manner as collars, cuffs,
and pockets. The embroideries also
make stunning table and cushion COW
ers and the bands of embroidery are
used effectively as borders on para
soils, hat trimmings, hand bags, and
blouse adornments.
GfIlan QCnrfR ~ nd
color, another product of the Maya
hand looms, are fashioned into stun
ming blouses, girdles, and are also
used in their natural state to be
knotted around fair shoulders or hat
crowns
Not all the Maya blankets, scarfs,
and embroideries are in riotous color
ings, either. These wonderful abor-
igines Of Central America have shown
themselves most .onsiderate OF the
fashionable wants OF 1917 American
matrons and bachelor maids of years
Of discretion, and so they have almost
as great an output of embroideries
done entirely in black and white or
gray and white, blankets striped in
the same natural monotones, and
scarfs woven in plaids and stripes of
the same. Therefore every one can
be smart and all Mayaed up and still
cling to her color scheme of life.
All the blankets, scarfs, and large
pieces OF embroidery shown on the
Maya models are original pieces
brought direct from the Indian tribes
or Guatemala, but the most of the en-
broidery bandings are modern Man
haitian manipulations of Maya meth
DDS, designs, and colorings.
"FIndIngs, In VanIties.
You can now buy ribbons at the rib
bon counter and embroidery landings
at the trimming counter that will
furbish up your last summer suit to
the last word in modish Mayaism.
Silks by the yard in Maya designs
and colorings are also being manufac-
tured and stockings embroidered in
Indian symbols are by no means at
the foot of the Maya list of fashion
able fads- The ribbons and embroid-
cred bands manufactured here are
really beautiful and almost defy de-
tection when placed side by side with |
Indian originals.
But il you want a blanket touch. |
much as 1 hate to be a wet blanket, |
i am contrained to tell you that you'll |
have to go to Guatemala for II. Or, |
rather, the house that is making
Maya specialties will have to import |
one for you. 1t strikes me II would |
be almost as simple to import a Maya |
instead. Think how handy 1t would |
be to have little Maya in your home, |
busily weaving your blankets for you
while you waltz
The main point Is that we have to |
be good Indians this season. At pres
ent Maya costume is more swagger
than Poiret model, a Maya bonnet |
than Georgette chapeau. At the be-
ginning of the war Paris trembIed /
lest New York usurp her laurels as
the fashion center of the world. Who |
could have dreamed that her mantle |
OF fashionable greatness would have |
descended in Guatemala, in Central |
America, instead. and in descending |
turn'into an Indian blanket!