Pascuala is a weaver from Zinacantán, Chiapas. She learned to weave on a back-strap loom when she was twelve years old, taught by her mother and sister.

The technique of using a backstrap loom consists of securing an end of the loom to a tree or post and the other end to the waist of the weaver, maintaining the tension with the weight of the body. This is a pre-Hispanic technique that continues to be used without major changes over the centuries. The complexity of the work that can be created on this loom is limited only by the skill of the weaver, and the entire loom with the weaving in progress can be rolled up at any time and carried from place to place.

The town of Zinacantán, of Tzozil origin, is located only ten km from San Cristobel de las Casas in what in the Tzotzil language means "Valley of Bats." Zinacantán, like many pueblos in Chiapas, has a great textile tradition.

The people of Zinacantán prefer being a closed community. As with other indigenous communities in this region, they can be identified by the clothes they wear: in this case distinctive purple, blue and pink predominate. All the clothes they wear are handmade locally. The wool from the sheep, cleaning, dyes and knitting are all done "in-house": nothing is purchased externally. Sheep are sacred here - they are treated, protected and mourned when passing away as any other member of the family. If you are driving through this region take extreme precautions with sheep that may wander into the road.

Zinacantán was conquered in 1486 by the Aztecs, during the reign of King Moctezuma Xocoyotzin. Here, the Aztecs established an important commercial center, while looking for precious merchandise such as the coveted feathers of quetzal, amber and jaguar skins, among others. During the Aztec time there was an extensive exploitation of the local salt mines.

The colorful landscapes have made Zinacantán one of the most photographed communities in the region. The inhabitants are hard working, having as main activities the floriculture and the production of vegetables for local consumption. The colorful clothes they wear give a singular beauty to the typical multicolored picture of Mexico. Zinacantán is located 2,100m over the sea level and has a population of more than 30.000.

The diversity of colorful crafts also imitates the valley dotted with greenhouses full of flowers, which are a very important part of Zinacantán’s economy as well as its rituals. The people of Zinacantán have always been naturally talented business people and merchants; perhaps a characteristic passed down from their Aztec ancestry.

The clothing woven by the men and women of Zinacantán have very bright colors that change season to season. For a long time, the main color was predominantly an intense Mexican rose. Currently more subdued tones are used, especially black, dark green and dark blue.

One of the most spectacular pieces of clothing made in Zinacantán is the marriage huipil called k'uk'umal chilil or "feathered huipil". At the bottom, feathers from white hens are attached. This is strictly a ceremonial dress used exclusively for weddings

Pascuala has managed to organize a cooperative of 20 women, many of them family, to work together to save expenses and giving mothers time to do their normal work in the home while making money to bring into their homes at the same time.

Pascuala and the other members of their group have participated in diverse art shows throughout Mexico. They have also published a book, “Revelations of Mexican Popular Art.”