Text and photo Laila Duran ©
It was one of those photo shoots where nothing really worked. The rain, mixed with wet snow, was literally pouring down and the camera got wet and stopped working. The only two people that did not notice this where the young couple modeling. How wonderful!!!! Love was in the air. A quick change of photo equipment and off we went back into the rain. She was radiant in spite of everything.
In cooperation with Ingrid Strömvall and Thomas Johansson from Borås I have been able to take photos of the folk costume tradition from Toarp, a district in Västergötland. These beautifully made garments are reconstructed from originals in museum archives. The garments tell the story of how the region developed from a hilly forested landscape in to an important center for trading woodwork and textile products. The Gårdfarihandlaren or Knallen, meaning pedlars, became hugely important to the region.
Thomas Johansson has made these spectacular gloves with napped edgings. The gloves with the heart is made for his wife Ingrid. The original gloves are from Nordiska Museet in Stockholm.
To use a fur jacket under the wool jacket was common in several parts of Sweden. The ladies also wear “snow-socks” in broadcloth over their shoes. A cotton kerchief are worn over the the silk caps to protect them from the rain and snow.
A wool bodice with embroidery is worn over the shift. It has leather edgings and is closed with lacing and pins. The green apron with silk edgings where used on Sundays.
The little puppy, a five month old “Västgötaspets”, was happy to participate in front of the camera as long as the treats kept coming.
To see more costumes from Toarp please visit the blog http://toarpsdrakt.blogspot.com/
In the blog Thomas Johansson and Ingrid Strömvall is showing several costumes and writing about the traditions of Toarp. There are also a booklet for sale. I would also like to thank Borås Museum for hosting the photo shoot.
All text and photos are protected by Copyright.
These two ladies are doing the only sensible thing: holding on to each other and wait for the rest of the family to arrive. Both are wearing wool caps over the traditional headdresses made of cotton.
The costumes are practical and warm. Leather, fur and broadcloth, with plenty off knitted accessories.
Under the fur skirt she is wearing a linen shift and thick knitted stockings. The wool apron is decorated with floral printed cotton at the hem.
