History & Notes: Antonino Ochoa was instrumental in bringing mariachi music to central Idaho. During the 1970s-1980s, Antonino and his band, "Mariachi de Idaho," played throughout the region. As characteristically flamboyant regalia is a signature of the mariachi, Antonino and the Mariachi de Idaho made their own corbatas (large ribbon ties) to complete their uniforms in the early days of the group's formation. After they was able to raise enough funding for proper corbatas, the gold embroidered red bows featured here became the favored accessory of the troupe. A skilled musician, Antonino played the cornet, trumpet, violin, maracas, and guitar both as a performer and as an instructor teaching students how to play in the mariachi style.
Description: Mariachi uniform, also known as a charro suit, consisting of a black suit jacket adorned with metallic shell and star embellishments at closure, black suit pants with metallic shell and star embellishments down the side of each leg, leather piteado belt with leather oval buckle, and corbata (tie). Corbata fastens to the neck with an elastic band. The piteado belt is fawn leather with white corded embroidery in equine designs. **/1: Black mariachi suit jacket with black lining. Size 42. With black with white stitching makers label attached to lining under collar. Tuxedo lapels with silver decorative hook & eye front clasp under them consisting of 2 circle clasps decorated with sun rays behind a silver seashell in the middle with two silver shells on the each side. Both circles and shells are connected by silver links and the circles and last shells are connected with a decorative chain 7/8" long and a 5 pointed star dangling underneath the middle shell. Jacket has 3 front double welt/buttonhole style pockets, one on left breast, and 2 hear hem on each side in front. Jacket also has an inside pocket on right side. **/2: Black mariachi uniform/suit pants. Cream muslin lining with black stitching. Hook and zipper closure. 2 jetted pockets on front, one to each side of zipper. Trousers have 3 black belt loops, one laying in front of each hip bone, and one in the middle of the back of the waistband. Pleat-less. Trousers also have 18 silver seashell embellishments down each side of the pants from just under the pocket openings down to the hem on each leg. Embellishments are made up of 3 seashells. 2 larger shells on their side mirroring each other with a smaller upright seashell in the middle. Each larger shell is attached to the small shell by 2 silver linked chains. **/3: Red satin corbata with gold embroidery thread and gold sequins. Tie is two tiered, the top tier is two loops, like traditional tied bow loops. They are fixed/laying on top of the 2nd tier consisting of two pointed 'ribbon ends' sticking beyond the bow loops by about an inch. Top loops are embellished with gold of two horse heads facing outward, mirroring each other. Two branch-like embroidered designs are framing each horse head. The branches consist of 13 smaller branches. 6 of the 8 outside smaller branches are tipped with a gold sequin. 3 of the 4 inside ones are also tipped with a gold sequin. The smaller branches without sequins, are tipped with embroidered thread shaped to look like leaves. Each horse head has thread stitched in different directions of the sewn thread denote main, ears, mouth, and nostrils, and each are entirely of gold thread except for a black dot of thread for the eye. The Corbata has a strip of satin 3/8" bisecting the layers in order to make the bow, and has a white strip of elastic running between it and the bow. Elastic band is used to attach the tie around the wearer's neck. The elastic ends are sewn together by red thread. **/4: Brown leather belt made of several layers of leather with white stitching around edge on back and front, and Piteado embroidery in geometric designs all along the front of the belt, and 3 horse heads inside of a horseshoe. First horse head is approx 4-1/2" down from buckle, the 2nd & 3rd are set approx 11" to 11-1/2" apart after that. Belt ends in a traditional point, with 6 belt holes, an embroidered stabilizer loop, and an embroidered oval belt buckle. Belt loop and buckle are connected to belt by the belt folding back on itself, creating a 3-1/2" flap. Flap is secured closed by two screws, one side being a flathead design, and the other showing threads. 44 in blue ink, with a 2 in pink written over the 2nd 4, making it 42 is on the back of the belt, near the buckle, just below where the belt folds onto itself to secure the loop, and buckle. Front of buckle has horse head wearing a bridle inside of a horseshoe surrounded by geometric design on the front. On back is leather with white stitching around edge, and silver metal buckle loop and hook.
Object Number: 2015.014.0001
Object: uniform --suit --pants --ensemble --jacket --necktie --belt
Category: Men's Garments
Circa: 1970
Materials: synthetic, metal, ribbon, leather, cloth, thread, elastic, sequin
Donor: Antonino A. Ochoa