Also known as Rebozos, Mexican Shawls are a part of fashion clothes and are an important accessory for Mexican women. It is a rectangular piece of cloth that covers the body and the head and can also be used for carrying small children and other things. In some places, Rebozo is used as a luxury garment where it is worn for special celebrations and parties as a complement of night costumes.

Over the years of its origin, different laws were made upon Mexican Shawls: In 1757, there were rules for the weave, size, and the kind of thread & designs. The most conventional ones were made in Sultepec, where they had been woven in waist looms since 1573, a time when Diego Cortez Chimalpopoca was the governor. In Puebla, the famous golden Rebozos were crafted as well as the ones fabricated with taffeta; in Saltillo, there were some adorned with a kind of design known as "saw teeth", similar to zarapes.

Mexican shawls are longer and scarf like, being a long, thin woven blanket, fringed at both ends, crafted of light, stretchy wool, cotton even silk. These shawls are worn over the woman's shoulders and are long enough to wrap a baby in the middle, catching the child against the body with safety and comfort.

Fabric:
Typical Mexican Shawls are made of cotton, silk or artisela. These are decorated with a technique known as Ikat or Jaspe. Before putting the thread in the color, it is tied so that some part of it retains the original color of the fiber. The thread is untied before the weave. Now the material has an irregular dye and reflects a flecked or grained effect. The weaver interweaves the fringes that are on both ends of the shawl and make some designs or figures, which sometimes include some poetical phrases.

Designs & Patterns:
Mexican Shawls come with distinctive signs and designs, which depends on the community where they are made and the people who wear them. Purépechas beautify them with stripes in two different shades of blue with flowers; Zapotecas designed them in waist looms with fringes, While Nahuas in North Veracruz and Puebla make fabricate them with wool, colored with natural dyes and embellished with cross stitches.

Market for Mexican Shawls:
Quality Mexican Shawls can be purchased from Mexico and some South American countries. Exclusive and elegant garment, Mexican Shawls are currently made by :

• Matlatzincas of Tenancingo
• Tejupilco in the State of Mexico
• Otomies of Santa Marís del Río in San Luis Potosí
• Purépechas of Zamora
• Tanganícuaro in Michoacán
• Nahuas of Chilapa in Guerrero

Shawls Buying Tips:
Today, shawl are not just a winter wear but have become a fashion statement. A wide range of shawls is available in various designs, patterns and materials influenced by cultural styles, which are hot and happening. The shawls are draped around the arms or can be wrapped around the neck like a scarf. Distinct kinds of shawls are in demand today, but what matters is smart-buying decision just apt for your own buying needs. Therefore, while shopping, you should keep the following shawl buying tips in mind, so as to make a clever buying decision:

• What you need to know: Before making your purchase, make sure that you know exactly, what you are buying. In market, different varieties of shawls are available, which can be categorized on the basis of material, design, pattern, and occasion. So it is important that you know what you are going to buy and whether, it serves your purpose or not. Carefully research and select your seller.
  
  
• Decide your unique needs and requirement: A piece of clothing used to protect the body against cold in earlier days, the shawls today, are worn for added warmth, style and fashion. Different shawls signify different meaning and use. Some shawls reflect the core traditional values and culture, some are worn purely for fashion, some for their grace & uniqueness, and more. So be specific, first decide your prioritize, unique needs and requirements.
  
  
• Color: Selection of a particular color depends on the taste of an individual. Black, white and gray color shawls match every dressing. The more casual is the style, the more freedom you will have with colors.
  
  
• Style: Choose a triangular shawl for draping over the shoulders and a larger rectangular shawl for tightly wrapping around the body.
  
  
• Wash: Most of the embroidered shawls can only be dry-cleaned, as regular hand washing can cause fading and fray the design. So while buying an embroidered shawl, make sure your priority is not a hand washable shawl.