GalleryWOMEN'S NATIONAL COSTUME OF THE ABRENE DISTRICT
Several centuries ago, the white national dress was prevalent throughout Latvia. Later, the Abrene district was the only one in which it was preserved. It is interesting to note that white was worn in the Abrene district not only on festive occasions, but at work as well.
The most decorative part of the festive attire was the "sagsha", a shawl made of natural white wool. It was bordered with several rows of embroidery, broader along the sides. The colours were quiet, but carefully matched. In summer this was replaced by the so-called "snahtené" — a white shawl made of figured linen.
The blouse had usually a narrow plain stand-up collar and long cuffed sleeves. Its main adornments were an inset yoke embroidered in red, and either an ornamented woven band, or a line of embroidery running across the upper part of the sleeve. The yokes used to be made separately beforehand, so as to have ready adornment for future blouses. The blouse was fastened at the neck either with a small silver brooch, the "sakta", or with white ribbon.
A white woollen jacket with a black stand-up collar was part of the Abrene district national attire. Its hem and sleeves were trimmed with a coloured border called "apauds", the edges along the front &mdash with red ribbon. The jacket finished at the waist, and its front corners were slightly turned up.
The summer skirt was made of fine white figured linen, The winter skirt of white wool. Red stripes were woven into the edge of the skirt, which was in addition trimmed with a brightly coloured border ("apauds") and sometimes also with self-made lace. Sashes were not worn, but bright trimming (apauds) was sewn on along the waist line of the skirt, and its ends were tied together in a knot at the back.
The headdress for young girls was a red coronet embroidered with tiny multi-coloured glass beads. Married women wore an "auts" &mdash a white linen scarf, rather like a towel, with bright interwoven stripes and short fringes along the edges. This was draped about the head and tied in a knot on the nape of the neck, leaving the ends to hang loose.
