THE CENTRE for Folk Art Production (ÚĽUV) has opened a new electronic encyclopaedia presenting traditional Slovak folk costumes. It is the first and only document of this kind in Slovakia, the SITA newswire reported.
The encyclopaedia is based on aquarelle pictures by Viera Škrabalová who carried out research from the early 1950s to the late 1970s. The extensive research to support conservation and restoration of the traditional costume in Slovakia was initiated by ÚĽUV.
“Viera Škrabalová captured in her pictures the traditional costume from nearly 100 villages across Slovakia at a time when it was still worn in many places,” Jana Melicherčíková from ÚĽUV’s marketing and PR department said, as quoted by SITA.
The encyclopaedia, titled Traditional Clothing of Slovakia, divides the clothes based on locality, gender and type (common, festive, upper garment), and also presents shoes, details and accessories. The readers will find information about how they were made and from which materials, and on which occasion they were worn.
Ethnographer Mojmír Bendža authored the encyclopaedia, and is an expert on traditional clothing who has been working on it for several years. According to Soňa Štangová, the editor, it would be a pity to hide such unique materials.
“The public should know and receive as much as possible from the wide pallet of our cultural heritage,” she said, as quoted by SITA.
The encyclopaedia can be found at: Traditional Clothing of Slovakia
