Textiles: Hispanic Textiles of Northern New Mexico

The Spanish who came to New Mexico in the late 1500s came with a sophisticated textile tradition. They brought with them the traditional horizontal treadle loom. Its continuous warp allows for a near endless length of yardage. They discovered that the pueblo people were weaving clothing from cotton.

By 1800, the Spaniards were weaving with wool but it was more a cottage industry than an economic factor. The Spanish government in Mexico recognized the potential of weaving as an economic benefit so it commissioned the Bazán brothers — Ygnacio Ricardo and Juan — residents of Puebla, Mexico, to go to Nuevo Mexico to teach weaving. Ygnacio had two young sons, so the four Bazán males were provided with two horses, three pack mules, a guide, two blunderbusses, two sabers and a musket for the trip up the Camino Real to Santa Fe, the City of the Holy Faith.

The high esteem regarded the weavers in Mexico was evident in the commission contract with words like "Artisan," "Art" and "Weaver" capitalized. Ygnacio was referred to as Maestro and Juan as oficia. The Bazáns were successful in teaching the villagers. Ygnacio stayed in New Mexico after his official duties ended. From this beginning developed the "Rio Grande Blanket."