Lithuanian national costume is a craft tradition built on linen, wool and skilled hands.
Materials and making
Every part of a Lithuanian costume is traditionally made by hand, including the weaving, embroidery and metal clasps. Blouses were traditionally linen, though cotton and linen-cotton blends are now more common. Skirts usually have a woollen base, and aprons are woven from linen or wool depending on the region.
Sashes and colour
Sashes are woven separately and worn at the waist, coordinated with the rest of the costume. Style, colour and pattern vary by region, with red, blue and green the traditional main colours. After the Second World War, diaspora costumes began to mix elements from several regions.
A year of celebration
Wool work was central to rural life because of the cold climate, and farms spun, wove, knitted and felted for their own households. An exhibition called Siūlas, or Thread, was presented as part of the 2017 Year of the National Costume in Lithuania.
Sources: Lithuanian Folk Art Institute: National Costume Archive, Lithuanian Folk Art Institute: Siūlas exhibition.
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