Fashion Rules: It’s a Unique Occasion as We Head to the Land of the Croatian

Croatia is located in southern Europe sharing a coastline with the Adriatic Sea. The history of the country is quite intriguing. Neanderthal remains have been found in Croatia that date back to over 30,000 years ago [1]. In the 4th century BC, the Greeks conquered parts of the country which soon lead to the Romans joining in 9 AD, expanding the Roman Empire [1]. It wasn’t until the 7th century AD when Croatians (“Croats”) traveled from Poland to settle in Croatia, where they later established their own religion of Christianity and state rules [1]. Since then, Croatia has endured world wars, alliances, hostile takeovers, declarations of independence, and so many leaders (both good and bad) [1]. In 2016, the country celebrated 25 years of independence [1]! The Croatian today belong to the Roman Catholic church with their values stemming from religion. They hold family, compassion, and devotion in high regard [2]. These values, like any others, tend to trickle down into our everyday life activities, choices, health, and even fashion.

Croatian traditional wear is not that simple to explain; it takes into consideration many factors. Is the wearer male or female, are they married or single, what region do they reside in, and what is their social status? For example, young unmarried women will wear brighter colors, unique hair styles, and headdresses to stand out from women who are married [3]. In Proec, women traditionally wore a white dress embroidered with red natural shapes like leaves flowers, scrollwork, etc. The dress had a simple silhouette, peasant sleeves, a crew neck, and a gathered skirt. The red symbolizes compassion and devotion, similar to their cultural values. Other traditional folk wear mimics this design. Moslavina women wear white clothing with geometric embroidery (often using red thread) [3]. They also wear coral necklaces and other beaded pieces in this region. All white dresses were worn by elderly women and those in mourning [3]. It is interesting to see how cultures take a color and make it their own symbol of importance. In the U.S., black is a mournful color while white it used for pure wedding ceremonies. Traditionally, white is the mournful color but in present day Croatia, many do wear white for wedding ceremonies. In Cilipi, women wear white tops and skirts, black vests, and yellow tassels as necklaces, while men wear black knee-length shorts, vests, white long socks, and white shirts. Both men and women wear red shoes and hats to maintain the vibrancy and passion in their looks [3]. In Osijek, Croatians dress themselves in white blouses and aprons, along with black and red vests. The aprons are adorned with red and green floral embroidery; the headdresses are yellow or white and cover the back of the head [3]. As you can see, the style differed by region but remained consistent in colors. Kotulas (skirts) and overdresses are popular wardrobe essentials, as are korets (decorative jackets), chemises (white dresses), and shawls/headscarves [4]. As for footwear, they used to strap on traditional opanci leather sandals [4]. Women used to wear two layered robes but have transitioned to sporting plain white dresses with lace and embroidery. This is mainly true for those who wish to stick to tradition; others will wear basic tees and skirts [4]. On the other hand, men wore wide trousers, shirts, fermen (waistcoats) or knee-length robes with a girdle [4]. They also wore caps that changed in size/shape based on the region they were in [4]. Like women, men wore opanci shoes that came from oxhide [4]. The fashion has evolved over time to be more modern and the Croatian people have adopted many western styles.

Zagreb is the capital of Croatia and it holds the title with pride as people dress to impress there. Italian fashion and contemporary design play a role in the looks you will see here [5]. Croatia is best known for its men’s fashion piece called the cravat (similar to the modern necktie); it is a neckband that became popular in Paris after it was used during the wartime in Croatia. Women would give their scarves as a symbol of loyalty and love to their soldiers, who would then tie them in knots around their necks [5]. The Croatian people pay specific attention to the details in their accessories, from hats to jewels to umbrellas [5]. There is a high-class shop in Croatia called Croata that designs and sells silk pieces since 1990; the purpose of the shop was intended to promote the neck tie as a way to tell the story of a person’s life [5]. The brand had six special designers connect with artists to create motifs with cultural meaning!

Trends in the country range from modern wear to traditional wear depending on the region. However, each style maintains embroidery and vibrant colors to represent the compassion that is largely valued there. The bold reds and vibrant contrasting hues provide eye-catching style. Croatian art is also used to create designs for fashion pieces and accessories. Handbag embroidery is another popular part of the designs here and usually consists of historical monuments and lace. Each piece takes mountains of research and collaboration with museums to create realistic, timeless designs [5]. Italy and Hungary attempt to influence the style of Croatia, but are rarely successful. The Croatian fashion will obviously follow global trends, but they set their own standards. The future of Croatian fashion will change with the times, but continues to maintain a sense of consistency in tradition.

With everything the Croatian people do, they do it with care. Compassion needs to play a larger role in the world today. Politically, socially, emotionally, logically, internationally, locally, internally, and externally- we need to have a sense of empathy. No matter the culture or religion, it is vital for us to care for one another in true solidarity. Fabric is all made of yarn and fibers just as we are all made of cells and blood. Fabric can be constructed from filament yarns and silk fibers or spun yarns consisting of cotton fibers. No matter what, the material is a material. Humans can be black, brown, white, tan, and so much more, but we are all still human.  

Stay tuned for next month…

REFERENCES

[1] https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/about-croatia/history-of-croatia/

[2] https://www.diversicare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Profile_Croatian.pdf

[3] https://www.tripsavvy.com/croatian-folk-costumes-1501295

[4] https://babogenglish.wordpress.com/2016/03/29/croatia-general-information/

[5] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/24/style/zagreb-croatia-accessories-fashion.html