Book excerpt: "Enter the Maya world through the pages of this book. Understand the roots of Maya culture and costume as it is expressed in their ancient history and legends, and in their ever-evolving, colorful, beautifully handcrafted dress. You will see exquisite gauze fabrics that trace their origins from the 9th century AD to a present-day lowland village; festival wear that blends Roman Catholicism and paganism, reverence and mockery; gloriously brocaded and embroidered wardrobes that tie communities together, embroidery techniques that reflect displacements and migrations - in other words, fabrics that trace the history and evolution of a people."