Traditional Macedonian Folk Costumes

 

While making the Bridal Necklaces I decided to shed a little light on Macedonian folk costumes here on my blog, a topic I have never dwelt much on. 
Macedonian folk costumes have a centuries-long tradition. They are part of the material culture of the Macedonian people and an important branch of the national artistic creation.
 

In the past, the peasant woman in particular, was the one who created the costumes starting from dyeing the yarn, weaving it into coarse cotton cloths and tightly woven wool yarn and cloths, sewing the parts of clothing and decorating it.

Wool, hemp, flax, cotton, and to a lesser extent silk, cultivated in the old traditional way, were and still are the basic raw materials used for making the costumes. 

There are about 70 various types of richly decorated traditional costumes in Macedonia. They are divided into two main types: western and eastern traditional costumes. Each type has its own distinctive characteristics and differences. 

There were separate costumes due to the occasions. So ordinary, everyday work clothes were less decorated and  plainer than those worn for the holidays which were richly ornamented. 
The whole attire consisted of several layers of clothing, starting from the camisole / shirt/ tunic or plain dresses over which women wore vests or coats and the mandatory apron and belt and head scarves. 
Men's costumes consist of white linen shirts and pants resembling English riding breeches, vests and wide cloth belts. Both men and women wore "opinci" a characteristic type of leather footwear. 

 

In some of my future posts I am going to write about traditional embroidery.