Women’s caftan

A woman's kaftan for a festive outfit, the so-called Krzczonów costume. It is made of white linsey-woolsey fabric with a linen lining. It is tight-fitting and short, reaching to the hips. The kaftan consists of a back, two fronts and sleeves. The sleeves are long, tapering downwards. The back is curved at the bottom, so this outer garment is called 'with a tail'. The kaftan is fastened at the neck with red, flat buttons, which are also sewn on both sides of the fastening for decoration. There are also sewn-on semi-circular flaps imitating pockets, on which one of the same red buttons has been sewn for decoration. The kaftan is relatively modestly decorated at the fastening, pockets, on the lower edge and on the cuffs, where there is an ornament in the form of a single lockstitch in red and white chain stitch. The decorative motif is striped and consists of straight and wavy lines, with lines arranged in eights embroidered between them.

This type of kaftan was commonly worn until the 1870s, i.e., before the changes which the Krzczonów costume underwent in the following years. The original festive garment was modest, made entirely of self-made materials and referred to other garments from the Lesser Poland group. Changes occurred in connection with the spread of factory materials that began to replace the homemade linen fabrics. The use of new fabrics and a large amount of various haberdashery made the outfit from the region of Krzczonów more colourful and decorative by the combination of contrasting colours. The new type of costume was created also using new cuts, which made the type of costume different from the earlier one and others in the neighbouring areas. The earlier garment was much less magnificent, decorated only with embroidery, and was worn by older women until the end of the 19th century.