NATIONAL COSTUME OF SUVALKIJA

• Suvalkija– is the latest developed ethnographic region of Lithuania. This part of country was laid waste by Teutonic Order.

• New residents from High Lithuania (Kapsai) and from Low Lithuania (Zanavykai) started to move from the other side of Nemunas. So they took their clothes which were typical for their fatherland.

Men Women

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WomenWomen

• Clothes of Suvalkija’s women are the most beautiful clothes in whole Lithuania for their bright colors and ornament combinations on white shining background.

• There are two types of clothes of Suvalkija’s women: kapsai and zanavykai.

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Aprons Shirts Skirts

Bodices Head decorations Sashes

Jewelery and shoes

ApronsAprons• Apron is the most vivid and the most Apron is the most vivid and the most

beautiful part of national clothes of beautiful part of national clothes of Suvalkija’sSuvalkija’s woman. woman.

• Oldest Oldest zanavykaizanavykai aprons, probably was aprons, probably was in fashion in the middle of XIX century. in fashion in the middle of XIX century. The oldest examples of these are sewn The oldest examples of these are sewn from white linen cloth and decorated from white linen cloth and decorated with red patterns. with red patterns.

• The most favorite apron’s motive in The most favorite apron’s motive in whole region was the geometric whole region was the geometric ornament of four lilies.ornament of four lilies.

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ShirtsShirts

• Almost all women’s shirts in this region are as tunic.

• They usually were sewn of cotton.

• Shirts of women of Suvalkija is very remarkable for their vide and very wrinkled on shoulder belt sleeves.

• They were plenty decorated with plants or geometric figured ornaments.

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SkirtsSkirts• Skirts usually were made of medium Skirts usually were made of medium

wool.wool.

• Wide, gathered skirts in Suvalkija were Wide, gathered skirts in Suvalkija were vertically striped. They were dominated vertically striped. They were dominated by one main color that was usually dark by one main color that was usually dark and rich (dark red, blue, violet, or and rich (dark red, blue, violet, or green).green).

• Symmetrically grouped narrow Symmetrically grouped narrow multicolored stripes separated wide multicolored stripes separated wide areas of the main color.areas of the main color.

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BodicesBodices• Older bodices in Suvalkija were of the Older bodices in Suvalkija were of the

same cut as those of Dzūkija. same cut as those of Dzūkija. • Around the mid-nineteenth century, Around the mid-nineteenth century,

bodices of the Kapsai and Zanavykai bodices of the Kapsai and Zanavykai types were already cut differentialy. Both types were already cut differentialy. Both types sewed fancy bodices from types sewed fancy bodices from expensive store bought cloth: brocade, expensive store bought cloth: brocade, silk, wool, and damask. silk, wool, and damask.

• The Zanavykai type wore bodices had The Zanavykai type wore bodices had short laps, while the Kapsai type had long short laps, while the Kapsai type had long and flared bodices.and flared bodices.

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SashesSashes

• Women in Suvalkija wore pick-up patterned Women in Suvalkija wore pick-up patterned sashes which, like everything in this land, were sashes which, like everything in this land, were woven especially precisely. woven especially precisely.

• They were distinguished by very plentiful They were distinguished by very plentiful tassels, into which were woven not only tassels, into which were woven not only threads, but also decorative scraps of cloth.threads, but also decorative scraps of cloth.

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Head decorationsHead decorations

• Kapsai girls decorated their heads with tall, golden galloons. Zanavykai girls wore narrow galloons or narrow sashes made of beads.

• Married women wore various bonnets with white linen or cotton scarf tied in a knot at the back of the head.

• Suvalkija’s women also wore headscarves.

• Women of Kapsai heads usual decorated wide galleons, which is color of gold. Women of Zanavykai decorate their heads of some colors threads string head beads.

• Married women wear various hoods, made of white weave lace, domestic linen and of expensive fabric silk textile.

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JeweleryJewelery• Necklaces of chopped coral pieces were

the favorite neck ornaments in this region. • Women of Zanavykai sometimes wore

“GERKLUTĖS”. It was made of small beading and sewed into a roller.

ShoesShoes• Suvalkija women wore leather shoes and Suvalkija women wore leather shoes and

sometimes woodensoles with leather sometimes woodensoles with leather uppers.uppers.

• In the summertime they wore very beautiful In the summertime they wore very beautiful white openwork knitted socks.white openwork knitted socks.

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MenMen

• Suvalkija’sSuvalkija’s men men clothing areclothing are dark with dark with bright colors decorations.bright colors decorations.

• Men wore coats, skirts, pants, boots and Men wore coats, skirts, pants, boots and hats.hats.

• Men’s national clothes have a typical Men’s national clothes have a typical accent- decorative pick-up patterned accent- decorative pick-up patterned sashes.sashes.

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To the beginning

Coats

Shirts

Other

CoatsCoats

• Men in Suvalkija wore caftans pleated at Men in Suvalkija wore caftans pleated at the back. These caftans sewn from the back. These caftans sewn from somewhat light gray or even white matted somewhat light gray or even white matted woolen cloth. woolen cloth.

• In the second half of the nineteenth In the second half of the nineteenth century, the coats gradually replaced century, the coats gradually replaced caftans.caftans.

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ShirtsShirts

• Tunic style shirts were sewn from white Tunic style shirts were sewn from white linen cloth.linen cloth.

• They were sometimes modestly They were sometimes modestly decorated with pleats or white decorated with pleats or white embroidery. embroidery. 

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OtherOther

• Men wore decorative pick-up patterned Men wore decorative pick-up patterned sashes around their waists. sashes around their waists.

• They also wore high boots and hats They also wore high boots and hats with straight brims that were decorated with straight brims that were decorated with feathers and flowers.with feathers and flowers.

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