Museo Textil de Oaxaca (Oaxaca Textile Museum), Oaxaca
If you think fabric鈥檚 just for curtains and cardigans鈥攖hink again. Welcome to the Oaxaca Textile Museum, where threads have stories, weaves have histories, and patterns might just blow your mind.
Right in the heart of Oaxaca鈥檚 Historic Center, the museum is tucked inside Antelo House, a building with more costume changes than a telenovela star. It started life in the 16th century as part of the orchard for the Saint Pablo Convent, then became a farm, then a fancy earthen home, then a two-story upgrade. In the 19th century, it moonlighted as The Belen Hospital. Finally, in 2008, it was given a new purpose thanks to restoration efforts.
Today, the museum goes far beyond simply showing textiles鈥攊t celebrates them like masterpieces. With about 7,000 pieces in its care (yes, seven thousand), it treats fabric with the same reverence you鈥檇 give to fine art. And frankly, it earns that status. You鈥檒l find everything from feather-threaded huipil fragments (that鈥檚 a traditional indigenous blouse) to richly woven sashes and ceremonial belts collected from across Mexico鈥攁nd far beyond.
Exhibits invite you to get lost in the textures, patterns, and quiet rhythm of weaving. They also encourage you to notice the surprising links鈥攁 Zapotec shawl might share a motif with a textile from Southeast Asia. Threads, after all, travel.
So if you think 鈥渇iber arts鈥� sounds a little too quiet鈥攖his museum will prove otherwise. Prepare to be dazzled by what a few skilled hands, a loom, and centuries of cultural memory can do.
Right in the heart of Oaxaca鈥檚 Historic Center, the museum is tucked inside Antelo House, a building with more costume changes than a telenovela star. It started life in the 16th century as part of the orchard for the Saint Pablo Convent, then became a farm, then a fancy earthen home, then a two-story upgrade. In the 19th century, it moonlighted as The Belen Hospital. Finally, in 2008, it was given a new purpose thanks to restoration efforts.
Today, the museum goes far beyond simply showing textiles鈥攊t celebrates them like masterpieces. With about 7,000 pieces in its care (yes, seven thousand), it treats fabric with the same reverence you鈥檇 give to fine art. And frankly, it earns that status. You鈥檒l find everything from feather-threaded huipil fragments (that鈥檚 a traditional indigenous blouse) to richly woven sashes and ceremonial belts collected from across Mexico鈥攁nd far beyond.
Exhibits invite you to get lost in the textures, patterns, and quiet rhythm of weaving. They also encourage you to notice the surprising links鈥攁 Zapotec shawl might share a motif with a textile from Southeast Asia. Threads, after all, travel.
So if you think 鈥渇iber arts鈥� sounds a little too quiet鈥攖his museum will prove otherwise. Prepare to be dazzled by what a few skilled hands, a loom, and centuries of cultural memory can do.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Oaxaca. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Museo Textil de Oaxaca (Oaxaca Textile Museum) on Map
Sight Name: Museo Textil de Oaxaca (Oaxaca Textile Museum)
Sight Location: Oaxaca, Mexico (See walking tours in Oaxaca)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Oaxaca, Mexico (See walking tours in Oaxaca)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Oaxaca, Mexico
Create Your Own Walk in Oaxaca
Creating your own self-guided walk in Oaxaca is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Oaxaca Introduction Walking Tour
If cities could dance, Oaxaca would move to a slow, graceful rhythm鈥攅qual parts ancient pulse and everyday joy. Officially called Oaxaca de Ju谩rez, this southern Mexican capital is where cultures don鈥檛 just meet鈥攖hey throw a fiesta. You鈥檒l find indigenous roots running deep, wrapped in colonial charm and topped with some of the best mole sauce you鈥檒l ever taste.
Long before the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Long before the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
A Taste of Oaxaca
Mexican food is world famous but what most people do not know is most of that distinctly Mexican food comes from Oaxaca. Many famous chefs come to this city to study the art of Mexican cuisine, including top chef Susana Trilling who now calls Oaxaca her home. This tour highlights the best Oaxaca has...
Pubs and Clubs of Oaxaca
Oaxaca is a very artistic city, full of musicians and artists trying to get their revolutionary message out. It has a few salsa joints but Oaxaquenos would rather be heard. There are some fantastic funky little pubs that have live music or even at times poetry readings. Later on in the night you can...