Costume and Embroidery of Nadvirna district. Ukraine

Hello all, 

Today I would like to take a look at the costume and embroidery of the Nadvirna district, In Ivano-Frankiwsk Oblast. What ethnic region does it belong to? Good question. It lies north of Hutsul Land, east of Boiko Land and west of Pokuttia. It could be considered southeastern Halychyna or Opillia. Opillia is a word that has been used recently, but I do not know how it is defined. Some maps label this as 'transitional zone'. I will present what information I have, and focus a bit on some individual villages which have distinctive features, especially Fyt'kiv. 

The image at the top of the article is from the town of Nadvirna itself. We see the classic Halychyna costume of a skirt, apron, embroidered sorochka, sometimes a vest, and kerchief on the women. The men are wearing a mix of city and traditional costume. The young man at left is wearing an embroidered shirt with city pants. The older man behind him is wearing military jodhpurs, Hutsul style socks and a sheepskin vest with northeast Boiko style embroidery. 

Here is a group of men from the neighboring village of Pniv. We can see embroidery on the sleeves, Boiko influence, floral embroidery on some sheepskin vests, and Hutsul style appliqued teeth on others. 

This family is from the village of Delyatyn.

These photos are from the village of Fyt'kiv.

An image from the marketplace of the city of Ivano-Frankiwsk itself.

A few more images from Nadvirna. 

In the central photo, we see what may be indigo dyed cloth in the skirts and aprons. Simple sheepskin vests are in evidence. The embroidery seems to be confined to collar, cuffs, and shoulder inset. The shoulder inset embroidery looks to be very dense, with a dark background featuring lighter colored designs. A couple of them show one or two narrow bands above the main embroidery. This is a recurrent theme in this region. 

Here is a photo of a girl wearing one such shirt. Often, as here, there is no cuff, but the end of the sleeve is smocked to form a functional cuff. If you look closely, you can see that the upper sleeve is gathered into the shoulder inset in Hutsul style. 

Such shirts are often executed in cross stitch. Here is another example. This is another composition common to the area, with trees or plants embroidered above the main band on the shoulder inset. This is common in much of Halychyna, but here the motifs are more floral and less stylized. This shirt does have cuffs, but has Boiko style smocking on the lower sleeve. Note that the collar folds over. The Hutsul style gathering on the upper sleeve is very clearly visible. [For those interested, Tania Diakiw O'Neill describes how to do this in her book on p 138.]

Here are a couple of embroidery charts attributed to Nadvirna area by Nashe Zhyttia. 

Here is another type of cross stitch ornament. Again, we see the same features on this shirt as the last. 

The embroidery is not limited to cross stitch. Here are a couple of nyzynka examples from the museum of the village of Fyt'kiv, [on Google Maps called Fit'kiv].. 

A couple of examples of older, simpler embroidery, also from the museum of Fyt'kiv. This type of archaic embroidery survives in pockets of Halychyna. 

This herringbone embroidery is from an old apron. 

Counted satin stitch is also used. 

This is the embroidered cuff of a man's shirt.

Note that the shoulder inset is embroidered on the sides as well. This is also common in older Halychyna embroideries. 

There is one more style of embroidery used in this area which may be restricted to the village of Fyt'kiw. It is called 'painted'. This involves covering the background with embroidery in a single color, possibly with cross stitch or satin stitch, and then executing free form floral embroidery over it. 

This is the collar of a man's shirt. Here they seem to have been embroidered on the collar and cuffs only. 

Notice that this last example is flanked by shirts done in nyzynka and cross stitch.

Most of the rest of this article will focus on the Museum in Fyt'kiw, which is the result of the efforts of one man, Rev. Mykola Hryhoryk. о. Микола Григорук. 

Here is a video put out by the museum for "Embroidery Day", a Ukrainian holiday which celebrates the Ukrainian Nationality as expressed by embroidery, one of the great expressions of Ukrainian identity. Father Hryhoryk shows off one particular shirt which was embroidered in the 1930's in the village of Lanchyn, which incorporates the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag. This was hidden away during the Soviet Years, because the possession of such a thing could get you exiled to Siberia. Now the shirt has once more come into the light, for all to enjoy. We also get a good view of the museum. 

https://www.facebook.com/museumfytkiv/videos/981446235897187

Skirts are made of various prints of bought cloth, both gathered and pleated, often ornamented with tucks and ribbons. Take a look at the above photos. 

Aprons may be made of a contrasting material, or may be linen with embroidery. 

We also see the gorset, a waist length vest with lappets, embroidered with beadwork, which was popular in much of western Ukraine, and also as far west as Malopolska. 

Also the horsyk, a west Ukrainian garment developed as part of the Halychyna Town costume. This is often of velvet, hooks together in front, is embroidered or beaded much like the gorset, and is open at the neck and has rounded bottom corners. 

We also see another upper body garment which closes all the way, with square corners and a high neckline, evidence of it being a practical, traditional garment. It is of black or naturally dark wool ornamented with embroidery and applique of wool cord. This is called kabat on the museum tags and exists both with and without sleeves. In this first photograph we see examples in the center, the upper left, and the lower right. 

Morshyn near Stryj.

I do not know the origin of this image, but it may be the market at Ivano-Frankiwsk.

People went barefoot, or wore moccasins, here called khodaky. Those who could afford luxury items wore boots with accordion pleated ankles. 

Kerchiefs, various necklaces and gerdany completed the outfit.