Overview
A rebozo is a long, narrow woven cloth, its ends usually finished in a hand-knotted fringe, made in cotton, silk, or wool. Draped, wrapped, or twisted, one cloth serves as a shawl against cold, a veil for church, a sling for an infant, and a bundle for goods.
How it is worn
It is worn over the head and shoulders, crossed over the chest, or tied to make a pouch that carries a child on the back or the hip, its long fringe hanging free. Fine ikat-dyed rebozos are treasured heirlooms; plainer ones are the everyday wrap of market and home.
History
The rebozo took shape in New Spain from Indigenous shoulder cloths, the Spanish mantilla, and silk brought across the Pacific, and became a defining dress of Mexican women. Towns such as Santa María del Río and Tenancingo remain famous for weaving them.