Geometry and abstraction are woven into five bands within the cotton textures of this beautiful shawl. Working on a traditional back strap loom, Ixbalam Ke Women Weavers use the Pikbil openwork technique to create radiant stars and stylized birds. “To us, stars symbolize a blessing. In our region, saints are always depicted with a star,” they tell us as they finish the shawl by braiding the fringe.