Welcome to our article dedicated to the fascinating world of folk brocades, especially those traditional to the regions of Chodsko and Doudlebsko. These textile treasures not only adorn folk costumes but also carry deep cultural heritage and history of these areas.
Doudlebsko
South of České Budějovice lies an area known as "Doudlebsko." Due to its location, Doudlebsko had close contact with Austria and Bavaria, resulting in imported fabrics that were unique and considerably unusual in Bohemia.
Typical Features for Women
Women's costumes, especially festive ones, had a distinctive appearance:
- Colorful, woolen shawls
- Colorful skirts with stripes
- Decorations included black velvet
- Aprons with silk, featuring a floral pattern arranged in bands, which came from Austria and replaced woven aprons. Older ones had vertical silk stripes and a cotton base.
- Bodices made of satin or cashmere
- Various types of scarves with floral patterns draped over the shoulders
- Cotton blouse, small apron, puffy sleeves with cuffs
- A prominent black scarf with a flower in the corner - women tied it at the back and draped one corner over the shoulder.
Typical Features for Men
- Dark colors
- Narrow, black boots with decorative stitching at the seams, tied with a wide belt
- The wide belt was embroidered with peacock feathers, adding delicacy to the pattern and becoming a significant part of the peasant costume
- A white shirt complemented by a vest made of richly patterned velvet
- A silk scarf tied around the neck, matching the women's scarves
- The whole ensemble was completed with a round hat and stockings.
Chodsko
In the western Czech region near Domažlice lies an area called Chodsko. "Chod" was, in Old Czech, a term for the head farmer who patrolled the borders and guarded them. Many traditions have been preserved to this day in this region - vibrant folk costumes, folklore, dialect, folk architecture, crafts, ceramics, refreshments, and an annual festival.
Lower Chodsko
Situated on the western border of Bohemia with Bavaria, the area was known as the "land of Buláks" due to the pronunciation "ja bul" instead of "já jsem byl."
Women's Costume
- Unlike many others, it does not have voluminous Baroque skirts.
- The "šerka" (folded red semi-woolen skirt) was adorned with a bow above the lower edge.
- "Nevolické zástěry" were replaced by brocades with a characteristic pattern.
- The "pantl" was floral and tied at the back.
- On festive attire, apart from beads and filters, there was also a brocade scarf with long tassels.
Men's Costume
- The so-called "praštěnky" were yellow leather pants with wide flaps, fastened on the sides.
- High boots.
- Shirt with a white embroidered bib, blue vest, and "kazajka."
- The vest and "kazajka" featured colorful embroidery on the flaps, collar, pockets, and sleeves.
Upper Chodsko
The costume was much simpler than that of the Lower Chodsko.
Women's Costume
- A woolen, folded, red skirt with a sewn-on green ribbon.
- A black cloth coat without decorations was worn to church.
- The shirt under the coat had diagonally cut narrow sleeves with a higher cuff.
- A scarf with tassels was placed in the neckline.
- A black silk scarf with woven blue stripes and colorful embroidery was a typical head covering.
Men's Costume
- Shirt with machine-embroidered embellishments.
- White "šerkové kabáty."
- Light leather or "šerka" trousers with a narrower flap.
- White stockings, low shoes, or high boots.
- A wide-brimmed hat with black ribbons.
The ribbons
The Chodské ribbons are a traditional Czech folk element with deep historical roots that significantly enrich the cultural heritage of the Czech Republic.
The ribbons are woven like regular meter goods, which are then cut and sold in so-called blocks according to the customer's needs.
