Where it is obtained and what is "Pita"?

The pita or ixtle is a natural fiber that comes from a variable of maguey (Aechmea magdalenae) grown in tropical forests that link the states of Oaxaca, Veracruz, Tabasco, Guerrero and Chiapas, in Mexico, on sites previously chosen for their moisture and climate, and the shade of noble trees of over 30 meters tall, sometimes between the shade of coffee, the agave plant, which belongs to the family of agave (Agave Americana), requires up to eight years of careful cultivation to reach maturity accurate to be processed. It is also found in the wild in areas of high forest in wet weather. Sometimes it takes place in areas near water bodies such as streams, rivers or wetlands. Its shape resembles that of the Mexican American agave, it was also appointed as Maguey of pita. It can reach up to 1.7 to 2.5 meters. This tough plant fiber that is used for centuries to make hammocks and miscellaneous items. Have found pieces of more than one hundred years old, which still retain their original strength. In many respects this fiber has very specific characteristics, both because of its size, brightness and smoothness; it also incorporates the quality of endurance. These characteristics make it a fiber material that can be compared in strength to silk.

This characteristic of resistance increased up to 40% in comparison with other natural fibers used allowed the indigenous to use this kind of natural fiber (Ixtle) in the manufacture of fishing rope, mooring for arrowheads, and the development of footwear, including producing ceremonial objects. The “Cloak” where the image is saved miraculously of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico is made of a fiber of maguey that some new scientific studies show miraculous events. Another feature distinctive raised in several studies in addition to its resistance, is the white pearl color in its natural state.

Now as hundreds of years ago, the fiber is extracted from the plant to break off by hand and with rustic tools, according to a process that has not changed with the passage of time take away the waste to the long rubber sheets maguey that scrape or manually with small machines designed to get home ixtle fiber is then washed several times with some portion of salt and lemon to give it a glossy white finish like pearl appearance of putting the sun to dry, once reaches the whiteness and brightness that are required between each of the fibers of the original herd to produce the thin strands of two or more threads.

The process of twisting the cactus fiber (ixtle) consume time and tests the patience, it is surrounded by alternating turns from right to left on a piece of leather tied around the leg by small wires twisted around 80 cms. Long helped with saliva or a damp cloth and cleaning as progress in fiber surrounded by pigs to maintain the appearance of the white pearl fiber and to join several of these threads and twists that in dozens are called “dolls” and are ready for sale to leather shopper’s artisans.