Embroidered Ceremonial Poncho Wearable Art from Santiago Atitlán - Vuelo de Quetzal

The Quetzal Takes Flight

A green quetzal spreads its wings at the centre of this ceremonial poncho, framed by two colourful hummingbirds, flowers and leafy branches. The embroidery stands out against a warm brown background, edged in cream.

Handmade Details

Our handmade ceramic bead fringe brings texture and movement to the piece, combining earthy tones with bright touches of colour.

Assembling the beads alone can take around 20 hours, requiring patience, focus and experienced hands. Each piece provides around three to four full days of fairly paid work for our artisans.

Birds Embroidered by Hand

Artisans from Santiago Atitlán spent around 15 hours hand-embroidering the birds on the front, continuing their town’s tradition of stitching the birds of Lake Atitlán onto huipiles.

For Your Special Moments

Wear it for a special ceremony, a meaningful event, or simply to share the incredible artistry of the Mayan world. Pair it with a simple top or dress, and let the piece speak for itself.

A Fit for Every Body

The one-size design fits all body types—simply move it on your shoulders to adjust how it sits and falls.

Details

• Hand-embroidered quetzal and hummingbirds by artisans from Santiago Atitlán

• Handmade ceramic bead fringe

• Cream edging on a warm brown background

• One-size design for all body types

• Can be repositioned on the shoulders

• Comes with a beautiful textile bag to keep your piece safe

Designed by Jaime Vargas

Jaime Vargas has spent more than 50 years creating contemporary art inspired by ancient pre-Hispanic civilisations, especially the richness of Mayan culture. This piece brings that lifelong inspiration into something you can wear.

Beads: Ceramic beads dyed (Kaolin clay)
Textile: Cotton, handembroidered (origin: Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala)

Weight: 800-900g // 28-32oz
Size: One-size fits all. See model photos for size reference or product description.

We recommend to not shower or swim with your new jewelry, however a bit of splashes and sweat won't damage the piece. When not using the jewelry, hang it or lay it out flat. The piece can handle being dropped and folded gently but try not to squash it between two hard surfaces.

We ship internationally from the US and Guatemala. Earrings and necklaces ship out from the US while Body Jewelry ships out directly from our shop in Guatemala. Shipping costs are calculated at checkout. Please see our Shipping Policy and Return Policy for full details.