Clothes, Color, and Markets in Guatemala

Some of the pieces I wore most throughout my trip in Guatemala were found locally in markets around Lake Atitlán and Antigua Guatemala. One was a vintage Ralph Lauren red skirt I bought in San Juan La Laguna for less than five dollars, and another was a long white dress I found later in the trip that became one of my favorite purchases from Guatemala.

Around Lake Atitlán and Antigua, markets mixed handmade Maya textiles, secondhand American clothing, embroidered fabrics, artisan jewelry, flowers, and ceramics all within the same spaces. The amount of color throughout Guatemala also influenced the way I dressed there. Bright reds, greens, yellows, embroidered patterns, painted buildings, woven fabrics, flowers, murals, and textiles were everywhere, especially around the markets and villages surrounding the lake. Against the volcanic landscape, the water, and the colorful streets, wearing brighter colors somehow felt completely natural. I found myself gravitating toward red skirts, green dresses, colorful jewelry, flowers clips in my hair, and lighter fabrics in a way that felt connected to the atmosphere of the trip and the visual environment around me.

Traditional woven garments and artisan textiles also remain very present throughout Guatemala, particularly around Lake Atitlán where many Indigenous Maya textile traditions continue today. Clothing and textiles felt closely tied to daily life across the markets and villages we visited.

Most of the outfits were planned around the trip itself, long days walking through markets, moving between villages by boat, spending time outdoors, and the warmer climate around the lake and Antigua.

A woman with dark hair and a green flower in her hair, wearing a colorful dress, standing on a wooden platform with a lake, trees, mountains, and cloudy sky in the background during sunset or sunrise.
A woman standing on a stone pier by a body of water, with mountains and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
A woman in a lime green dress stands on a wooden deck overlooking a lake with mountains in the background. She is facing away from the camera with her arms outstretched, smiling, and has a flower in her hair.
A mirror attached to a beige textured wall reflects a person wearing a red outfit, consisting of a crop top and long skirt, with jewelry and a white flower in their hair. The person's face is not visible.
A woman taking a mirror selfie in a room with a textured white wall, wood-framed windows, and tiled flooring. She wears a red dress and has glasses resting on her head, with various bracelets and necklaces.
A young woman with long dark curly hair wearing a red sleeveless top, a white skirt, a cross necklace, and sunglasses on her head, smiling while standing on a viewing platform overlooking a lake with mountains in the background, under a partly cloudy
A woman standing against a textured beige wall with decorative columns on the right, wearing a strapless black dress, pink sneakers, and a cross necklace. She has shoulder-length dark hair and is looking to the side with her hands behind her back.
A woman with dark hair styled in an updo with a green plant decoration, wearing a lime green long-sleeve dress, stands on a balcony overlooking a scenic lake and mountain landscape during daytime. She is facing sideways with her eyes closed and a gen
A person's lower body walking on a gray stone sidewalk with small purple flowers scattered around. The person is wearing a red skirt, a pearl necklace with gold accents, and brown sandals.
Lake Atitlan view outfit red shirt.jpg
A woman standing on a wooden balcony overlooking a blue lake with mountains and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
A young woman with long curly hair taking a selfie in a mirror. She is wearing a strapless white top with a floral pattern, beige pants, and has colorful beaded necklaces and bracelets. The setting appears to be an outdoor patio with wooden panels an
Street scene with colorful umbrellas hanging overhead, a woman in a red top and long white skirt walking, shops and motorcycles on the street, mountains in the background.
Antigua red dress.jpg
A woman in a white dress taking a mirror selfie in a room with a textured white wall and a wooden door.
Woman in red outfit walking in front of large dark wooden door, framed by stone and orange walls, cobblestone street.
A woman in a white sleeveless dress standing outdoors at sunset with a background of trees, rooftops, and mountains, and pink and purple sky with clouds.
A woman in a lime green dress with a flower in her hair standing side profile near a railing overlooking a scenic lake with mountains in the background.

Markets around Lake Atitlán and Antigua Guatemala often mixed handmade huipiles, woven bags, embroidered fabrics, flowers, ceramics, household goods, and secondhand American clothing all within the same spaces. Many of the markets combined everyday shopping with artisan textiles and handmade objects rather than separating them into different areas.

Guatemala also has a very strong secondhand clothing culture through pacas, large thrift markets filled with imported clothing from the United States. Because of that, vintage American clothing appears frequently in local markets alongside traditional Maya textiles and handmade garments. One of the pieces I wore most during the trip was a vintage Ralph Lauren skirt I found in a market in San Juan La Laguna for less than five dollars. I liked the contrast of finding such a recognizable American brand within a village known for its Indigenous Maya textile traditions and artisan culture.

At the same time, traditional textile craftsmanship remains very present throughout Guatemala, especially around Lake Atitlán where many Indigenous Maya communities still produce woven garments and embroidered fabrics by hand. Many huipiles and cortes require weeks or months of work and use techniques passed down across generations, including traditional backstrap weaving and natural dyes.

Looking back, I think that combination is part of what stayed with me visually throughout the trip. The colors of the textiles, markets, flowers, painted buildings, volcanic landscapes, and clothing all seemed connected to one another. Even the way I dressed there started to reflect the environment around me more naturally.

A young woman with long curly hair taking a selfie in a mirror mounted on an orange wall. The mirror has an ornate black frame and is surrounded by green plants.