Multiscale characterization of shellfish purple and other organic colorants in 20th-century traditional enredos from Oaxaca, Mexico

Enredos are iconic textiles that have been produced for centuries by Mexican communities to celebrate pregnancy, weddings, etc. They have been traditionally dyed with three natural dyes, namely indigo, cochineal, and shellfish purple. In this study two modern enredos produced in the 1980s, now in the collection of the National Museum of Mexican Art, were investigated with the aim of understanding the colorants used and informing on the use of traditional dyeing practices in modern Oaxaca.