Festive costume typical of the early twentieth century. It consists of a sleeveless „zabun” made of factory cotton fabric - red base with white stripes. The “zabun” is a favorite garment in the region, and with the advent of the new century it has been gradually abandoned by younger women and worn mainly by older women. The trapezoidal shape of the garment from the waist down is achieved with high wedges on the sides, and the lack of pucker contributes to the simplified look and cut.
The bosom is deeply cut, oval, richly trimmed with black braid and blue braid. The buttons are placed on an additional piece of purple fabric, the pointed tip of which enters the neckline. It is interesting to mix elements of different types of clothes. This shows the parallel existence of clothing and the mutual overlap of elements to each other, in this case between this „zabun” and the "scarlet foustan" with a bosom with an additional pointed piece of fabric for the buttons, and perhaps this is the prototype of foustans with cut and decorated bosom. On the open bosom is placed a breastplate of dark blue velvet, on which the necklace with the golden pendar stands out well.
Below is a long white shirt with "zapeski" and blue trim on the sleeves and lace on the skirts.
The waist is fastened with a red belt, and above it with „lashnitsi” is belted the typical red festive apron, decorated with flowers and black fringe "pusheta" below. The border under the colored decoration completely impresses with the geometric decoration of the double-breasted „lashnici” (ties) on the apron, emphasizing the woman's sense of symmetry and aesthetics.
The waist is fastened with a red belt, and above it with „lashnitsi” is belted the typical red festive apron, decorated with flowers and black fringe "pusheta" below. The border under the colored decoration completely impresses with the geometric decoration of the double-breasted „lashnici” (ties) on the apron, emphasizing the woman's sense of symmetry and aesthetics.
The legs are in brown socks with embroidery on the foot and ankles and worn Wallachian slippers with a red pompom. The head is covered with a purple headscarf - "kushak-sindzirliya", which, among other elements, gives additional representation to the costume. Both maidens and brides wear necklaces, bracelets, earrings, but only married women can wear buckles.
Antonia Preshelkova from Razlog put on the costume.
This costume is from the fund of the Historical museum in Razlog.
The project "Study of the specifics and richness of national costumes from the Razlog region in the light of cultural diversity" is realized with the financial support of the National Culture Fund under the program "Cultural Heritage".
In fulfillment of the goals of the project we present some of the most beautiful traditional costumes, typical for the Razlog valley in the last 2 centuries.
We offer our sincere thanks to our hosts from the Historical Museum - Razlog, and to all local people who helped with the realization.
Special thanks to all participants and team members who took their time and with useful information, knowledge and valuable advice made possible the work on the project.
A reverence to the girls and boys from the town of Razlog, who stood in front of our camera and with their enthusiasm, youth and beauty revived for a new life the most beautiful costumes from old Mehomiya.