Woman's Belt (faja) c. 20th century

Curator: This object is a woman's belt, a faja, created sometime in the 20th century. It resides here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and showcases weaving using cotton, wool and silk threads. Editor: Immediately striking is the belt’s emphatic verticality, the way the various visual registers stack one on top of the other to emphasize the overall elongated form, the interplay of positive and negative space— Curator: Think of the belt, though, not merely as design, but as something interwoven with personal and cultural narratives. The geometric and figural motifs carry deep symbolism, revealing societal values. The consistent patterns of stylized animals—what do you think they communicate about human-animal relations? The zigzags might be metaphors for life’s journey, full of its ups and downs, no? Editor: True, and those repeated stylized animal and geometric motifs offer rhythmic stability, a structure, in the very way these threads of cotton, wool, and silk are brought together. The palette is quite contained – mainly creams and dark purples, offset with a striking line of crimson. Notice how the weaver uses these chromatic juxtapositions. Curator: And beyond color, it is in texture too: this textile becomes more than something utilitarian—a common faja—it’s now elevated to something ritualistic. The woven imagery functions almost like a language… a visual script. These patterns are mnemonic devices, too, carrying narratives specific to its maker, the community it comes from, their heritage… The garment then becomes an autobiography in its own right! Editor: An autobiography constructed through the formal mechanics of repetition and variation, through strategic color choices and precise geometric configurations! There's such deliberate arrangement that lends itself so beautifully to decode… Curator: It is also a perfect representation of the melding of different generations, a connection with its ancestors. Its symbolic representation and functionality allow its community members to find strength, both individually and collectively. Editor: Reflecting on this belt's textile structure and historical significance has shifted my perspective beyond surface-level appeal. I am curious to know what narratives these material patterns could tell. Curator: For me, thinking about this belt underscores the value of adornment and costume – they serve as conduits for personal, cultural, and spiritual narratives. They weave stories of who we are and where we come from.