Hidden beauty

People, Fashion

Hidden beauty

Beauty is hidden deep in the heart of Europe.
The result of several decades of handcraft work from handmade textiles.

Even 200 years ago girls wanted to look stylish and fashionable.

Folk costume (kroj) shape of which has begun to form more than 200 years ago when simple dresses were being replaced by more personalised form of clothes. New parts and ornaments started to appear on an ordinary working clothing which evolved into ceremonial krojs. They did not only show one’s belonging to a region or a community, but also one’s social status. This process resulted in 70 regional forms of kroj at 19th century Slovakia, reflecting personal taste and imagination of the people.

Each kroj variant and its parts had their own language, that spoke of the occasion it was meant for. The most distinctive decoration of a girl wearing it was – and in some parts of Slovakia still is – parta, which is ribbon-decorated wreath on her head. It’s use was limited to a wedding day and symbolises the wedding itself as well as settling down and the end of freedom.