The horsemen of the Gran Chaco whose Guaicurú cavalry supremacy, elaborate body art, and Pantanal warrior aristocracy made them the most feared and most visually magnificent indigenous nation in the heart of South America.
Mbayá People — the Guaicurú-speaking equestrian nation of the Gran Chaco and Pantanal whose acquisition of the horse in the seventeenth century transformed them into the most militarily formidable indigenous cavalry force in South America, the Mbayá horsemen whose raids across the Chaco, the Pantanal wetlands, and the Paraguay River frontier kept the Spanish colonial settlements of Asunción and the Portuguese frontier posts of Mato Grosso in a state of permanent military alert for two centuries, their horsemanship, tactical sophistication, and ferocious independence earning them the name Guaicurú — the term of fear and respect that the surrounding nations applied to the most dangerous riders on the continent. The Mbayá world — whose aristocratic social structure, the most rigidly stratified indigenous society in the Chaco, divided their nation into a noble warrior class, a commoner class, and the Guaná agricultural client peoples whose labor supported the Mbayá cavalry economy in a feudal arrangement that astonished the European observers who encountered nothing like it elsewhere in South America, and whose body art tradition — the elaborate geometric tattoos and body paintings whose designs covered the faces, torsos, and limbs of Mbayá men and women in the most visually striking personal adornment in the Americas — was documented by the naturalist Hercules Florence and the artist Debret whose images of Mbayá magnificence remain the most compelling visual record of Chaco indigenous aristocracy in the colonial archive. This interactive t-shirt connects you to that cavalry and Pantanal legacy with a QR code linking to the full story.
HERITAG is a purpose-driven brand that celebrates cultural diversity and awareness. Wear and share your social identity and cultural heritage with a unique collection of interactive t-shirts that carry flags of ethnic groups in Brazil. Create informative and fun moments by inviting people to scan the visible QR code and learn about the diverse population in Brazil.
Making products on demand instead of in bulk also helps reduce overproduction, and this quality t-shirt is made especially for you as soon as you place an order.
Few more details about this t-shirt: • Scannable QR code printed on the back for an interactive and fun experience • Designed to educate about a nation's proud history and rich culture • Custom print-on-demand unisex t-shirt • 100% cotton Gildan t-shirt. Soft, comfy, pre-shrunk jersey knit • Sport Grey is 90% cotton, 10% polyester • Heather colors are 50% cotton, 50% polyester • Classic fit, taped neck and shoulders for soft feel • Double seam at sleeves and bottom hem for more durability • Fabric weight: 5.0-5.3 oz./yd² (170-180 g/m²)
