Our country has a rich folk tradition and one of the most important

expressions is undoubtedly the traditional costume. Rooted deep, inside ancient times, the Greek costume was left to the influence of history, the environment, institutions, morals and customs. Observing the

the many variations of the Greek costume, their fancy colours,

the delicacy of the ornaments, the effort for originality and specificity,

one sees the character of the people reflected in them. The

traditional Greek costumes must have begun to take shape in the way that we know, in the mid-17th and 18th centuries.

As far as clothing is concerned, the Greek traditional costume presents a great variety depending on the region (island, mainland Greece), the use (everyday, festive, girlish, bridal, old age), the profession, the social status and the economic situation. The costume is also divided into male and female. Both types of costumes consist of many pieces. But the one that presents more variety and interest is the female costume.

In traditional Greek culture, every costume "carries" messages about the social status of a person, especially a woman. In local society, the costume indicates whether a woman is single or married, newly married, has children or is a widow. An example of this complex semiotics is the more than 40 different motifs that adorn the Thracian Sarakatsan costumes. Combinations of these patterns indicate not only the place of origin, but also the social status, occupation and detailed marital status of a person, especially women.

More costumes coming soon...