Kurzeme
Kurzeme is in western Latvia and populated in earlier times by Couronians and Livonians. Clothing styles here were shaped by its geographical location on the Baltic Sea coast, its sea ports and related economic activity. There are several distinct regional clothing styles in Kurzeme. These include Southern Kurzeme, Alsunga, Kuldīga, Ventspils, Northern Kurzeme, Eastern Kurzeme and the Northern Kurzeme Livonian area.
The county of Southern Kurzeme comprises the lands in the southwestern corner of Latvia with a relatively long coastline, almost all of the former district of Liepāja, and part of the district of Aizpute. The older forms of clothing from this area are quite similar, while in more recent times, the parishes of Nīca, Bārta, and Rucava each developed their own distinctive style.
The county of Alsunga consists of the parishes of Alsunga, Basi, Gudenieki, and Jūrkalne which were once part of the former district of Aizpute. This area is distinct from surrounding Lutheran parishes in its adherence to the Roman Catholicism, a circumstance which also contributed to its relative isolation from the rest of Kurzeme and the subsequent persistence of traditional clothing. The older forms of clothing, however, show many elements in common with older types of clothing from Kuldīga and, to a certain extent, Ventspils.
The county of Kuldīga comprises many of the parishes from the former district of Kuldīga, including Kuldīga, Renda, Raņķi, Turlava, Vārme, Tadaiķi, and Kurmale. This area includes the parishes of the Couronian kings or freemen. Traditional clothing from Kuldīga has several features in common with the clothing from Alsunga and Ventspils.
The county of Ventspils includes the parishes of Venta, Vārve, Zlēkas, Zīras, Zūras, Piltene, Ēdole, Užava, Usma and Ugāle from the former district of Ventspils. These areas also show similarities with Alsunga and Kuldīga.
The county of Northern Kurzeme includes the traditional Livonian villages. Few articles of traditional Livonian clothing have survived because the Livonians transitioned earlier to factory-made clothing than the Latvian peasantry, because of their involvement in fisheries and shipping. However, evidence of traditional clothing is available through nineteenth century drawings, where similarities with Latvian clothing from Northern Kurzeme can be observed.
The county of Northern Kurzeme includes the parishes of Pope, Puze, Ance, and Dundaga from the former district of Talsi, and part of Ventspils. There are some similarities with Livonian clothing from Northern Kurzeme.
Eastern Kurzeme is a relatively large county and consists of the eastern parts of the former districts of Kuldīga, Liepāja, and Aizpute, the western part of Tukums, and the former parishes of Kabile, Saldus, Sātiņi, Kursīši, Pampāļi, Skrunda, Lutriņi, Blīdene, and Irlava along with some surrounding areas. The district of Tukums is considered part of Zemgale, however, its western area is culturally and historically more closely connected with Eastern Kurzeme and the clothing worn here reflects this connection.
Folk costumes
Women's Clothing from Nīca
Kurzeme jeb Kursa ir kultūrvēsturisks novads Latvijas rietumu daļā. Kurzemes novada tautastērpi bija izplatīti teritorijā, kuru senāk apdzīvoja kurši un lībieši.
Women's Clothing from Bārta
Kurzeme jeb Kursa ir kultūrvēsturisks novads Latvijas rietumu daļā. Kurzemes novada tautastērpi bija izplatīti teritorijā, kuru senāk apdzīvoja kurši un lībieši. Pateicoties aktīvajiem jūras sakariem, 19. gadsimta beigās tērpos ienāca Latvijai netradicionāli materiāli - tērpu apdarei bagātīgi izmantoja no ārzemēm atvestās lentas, vizuļus, pērles, zīda un samta audumus. Taču dažās Kurzemes daļās ir saglabājušās arī ļoti arhaiskas, pat vairāku gadsimtu senas sieviešu apģērba daļas, kā spangu vainagi un tumši zilās mēlenes, kas raksturīgas Kuldīgas apriņķa tērpiem. Arī daudzu gadsimtu senais villaiņu darināšanas un segšanas veids uz viena pleca atrodams Dienvidkurzemē.
Women's Clothing from Rucava
Kurzeme jeb Kursa ir kultūrvēsturisks novads Latvijas rietumu daļā. Kurzemes novada tautastērpi bija izplatīti teritorijā, kuru senāk apdzīvoja kurši un lībieši. Pateicoties aktīvajiem jūras sakariem, 19. gadsimta beigās tērpos ienāca Latvijai netradicionāli materiāli - tērpu apdarei bagātīgi izmantoja no ārzemēm atvestās lentas, vizuļus, pērles, zīda un samta audumus. Taču dažās Kurzemes daļās ir saglabājušās arī ļoti arhaiskas, pat vairāku gadsimtu senas sieviešu apģērba daļas, kā spangu vainagi un tumši zilās mēlenes, kas raksturīgas Kuldīgas apriņķa tērpiem. Arī daudzu gadsimtu senais villaiņu darināšanas un segšanas veids uz viena pleca atrodams Dienvidkurzemē.
Reconstruction of the 13-14th century Curonian woman’s costume
The ancient tradition of creating and assembling national costumes was preserved throughout Curonian women's clothing over the ages. We can see how they were applied in the North-western Courland in the 15th century, for example. Beautiful Curonian woolen shawls were decorated along the edges with thousands of interwoven bronze spirals that collectively formed geometric patterns. Typical Curonian women’s adornments included armbands that were worn on both hands. These metal armbands were decorated by patterns shaped into the metal itself, the style of which changed over time. Metal neck-ring that were twisted or braided in style were worn around the neck, at the ends of which hung pendants. Crowns made of twisted bronze metal were used as head ornaments.
Women’s Clothing from Talsi
• Krekls – taisna piegriezuma garš (līdz puslielam) ar baltu izšuvumu un atlokāmu apkakli;• Brunči – jostasvietā ielocēs salikti kupli, vertikāli svītraina auduma brunči;• Veste – tumšas krāsas, pieguloša, bez rotājuma;• Villaine – balta, ar nelielu izšūtu saulītes motīva rotājumu stūros un mestām bārkstīm galos; • Galvassega – smalka žakarda auduma cepure:• Kāju āvums – adītas garas (līdz celim) rakstaini adītas zeķes;• Rotas – krekla aizdarei lieto vienu nelielu baltmetāla saktiņu.
Women’s Clothing from Ventspils
Women’s clothing from the Ventspils district in the province of Kurzeme is characterized by linen shirts in one of two styles, either two separate, rectangular fabric pieces sewn together at the shoulders, while the other has a one piece body, where the front and back consist of one contiguous piece of fabric folded over at the shoulders. The shirt has an upright collar and whitework embroidery on the collar, shoulder straps, and cuffs, fastened with small to medium size annular brooches (saktas) or fabric ribbons.
Women’s Clothing from Alsunga
Women’s clothing from Alsunga is characterized by a long, mid-calf length linen shirt in one of two styles. One style consists of separate, rectangular fabric pieces sewn together at the shoulders, while the other has a one piece body, where the front and back consist of one contiguous piece of fabric folded over at the shoulders. The shirt has a detachable collar and wide cuffs. The collar is embroidered with dark blue yarn or glass beads. The cuffs are embroidered with white or unbleached linen thread; alternatively with multi-coloured yarn. The shirt is fastened with a small to medium size sakta, set with polished glass stones.
Livonian Men's Clothing
Jau mūsu ēras pirmajos gadu simtos dažādām baltu cilšu grupām bija savdabīgas apģērba, rotāšanās un apbedīšanas tradīcijas. Pēc atrastajām senlietām un audumu fragmentiem iespējams rekonstruēt pat no 7. līdz 13. gadsimtam valkāto apģērbu. Līdz pat 13. gadsimtam kurši mēdza aizgājējus sadedzināt, bet, līdz ar kristietības ienākšanu Latvijas teritorijā, virsroku ņem apbedīšanas tradīcija. Pārsvarā baltu ciltīs mirušos apbedīja, tādejādi ļaujot artefaktiem saglabāties un dot mums kaut nelielu priekšstatu par tā laika apģērbu.