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Skopelos Traditional Dress – Costume
SKOPELOS CULTURE
The traditional costume of Skopelos is of great interest as it differs between Chora and the villages of the island such as Glossa and Klima. It is also one of the most elaborate and impressive Greek costumes. The date that the costume appeared is the 17th century, although its final form has been official since the middle of the 19th century.
The female costume of Skopelos is considered unique as there is no other costume like that in other parts of Greece, it has influences from Byzantium, the Western Renaissance, and the fashion that prevailed in Europe in the early 1900s.
This is due to the economic prosperity of the island, as the male population traveled as far as the Black Sea coast as they were involved in maritime trade, shipbuilding, and shipping.
The traditional costumes of Skopelos reflect a strictly Puritan society. Unlike other local costumes, women wore heavy velvet robes that covered their bodies completely, completely hiding the feminine element.
The many heavy clothes were a kind of display of each family’s wealth. But heavy clothes created health issues for the young girls of the last century.
THE WEDDING-BRIDAL DRESS
The Skopelos wedding dress, or Morko, Volta, or Kalo along with Stofa (embroidered handmade circle), is the official costume of the island. The makeup comes from “moricaux”, meaning dark. Black predominates with a strong contrast of colorful embroidery, solid gold thread, and rich materials. The costume also features an inner white cotton shirt, a white silk shirt, four undershirts that give volume to the ensemble, and a vest. The fabrics and embroidery are silk and the costume is composed of many folds. The bride adorns her elaborate headdress.
Families who had a girl had to take care of the dowry along with the preparation of the scarf. Usually, the girls embroidered their wedding dresses with red, yellow, and green silk threads. The other parts were embroidered with special embroidery. Only girls from wealthy families wore Stofas. Girls whose families were not rich enough wore a red-brown dress on their wedding day.
In addition to the wedding garment, married women wore blue dresses or geraniums and single women wore white long dresses. The young girls wore an all-white pleated dress, with the white reflecting their purity. The girls at their engagement wore beautiful green and red dresses. Older women opted for a black underskirt otherwise called a “calovoli” or “volta”.
The everyday local costume of the Chora of Skopelos is monochrome unlike the one worn in the village of Glossa which is printed. Even today, one may come across elderly women dressed in local costumes.
GLOSSA AND KLIMA VILLAGES – MEN’S LOCAL COSTUMES
The women’s local costumes in the villages of Glossa and Klima have much in common with the clothing of Euboea. In the village of Glossa, the girls wore a white underskirt. Additionally, they had two more dresses called “tsitsia” or “’fountoma”. Men’s local costumes, on the other hand, were the same all over the island, a classic island breeches.
THE TRADITIONAL DRESS OF SKOPELOS IN THE FOLKLORE DANCE FESTIVAL “DIAMANTIS PALAIOLOGOS”
The dance festival of the Diamantis Palaiologos is now well-established. From 2013 until today the dance festival brings together dancers and groups, cultures and traditions from all over the world. Skopelos, its culture as well as the traditional costume of the island become a center of popular culture and tradition.
During the events, which usually last 3 days, Skopelos hosts about 600 dancers and 7500 spectators from all over the world. All together focused on music and dance, they showcase the traditions of their place, bridging the specificity of each culture.
Alongside the dance performances, there are a variety of other activities such as exhibitions, workshops, seminars, and rehearsals open to the public. The dance groups always wear the traditional costumes of the place they come from, with the costume of Skopelos playing a leading role.
THE TRADITIONAL WEDDING DRESS IN CARNIVAL
During the whole Carnival period, locals dressed up and have fun. They use a lot of their traditional costume. Especially on the last Sunday of the Carnival in Skopelos, where the parade depicts the wedding procession.
The role of the bride is given to a man who dresses up, while everyone satires some character. Throughout, they sing famous carnival songs and drink with joy.
ΤΗΕ TRADITIONAL COSTUME OF SKOPELOS WINS PRAISE
Mr. Christos Palaeologos and his daughter Amalia were awarded the prize for the best photograph at the celebrations held in Düsseldorf, Germany, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary (1821-2021) of the revolution of 1821.
The winning photograph has the illuminated Rhine Tower as a background.
THE TRADITIONAL COSTUME OF SKOPELOS MEETS THE MODERN FASHION
From the Fashion Runaway in Athens to London the traditional outfit of Skopelos inspires new people to create new trends.
Student Miranda Dempsey, a girl from America who lived and grew up in Skopelos, of Arts Fashion Design of the Akto School program created her designs based on Skopelos’s Costume in 2012.
In 2014 at the Hellenic Center London’s exhibition “Patterns of Magnificence: tradition and reinvention in Greek Women’s Costume”, the Morko of Skopelos was chosen as the main theme of the cover.
The exhibition featured both the Morko and the Kali Foustana.
Adrina Hotels recently organized a new institution. An original idea of the artist Magda Mavrogianni and the owner of Adrina hotels Maro Mavrogianni-Rodopoulou. Fashion show on the theme of tradition, fashion, and art. Of course, the traditional dresses and fashion designers of the island could not be missing.
In the photo, we see ladies Magda and Maro Mavrogianni with fashion designer Monica Penetti at the pool of the hotel Adrina resort after the show.
THE TRADITIONAL DRESS OF SKOPELOS THROUGH THE YEARS
Long before the convenience of the internet entered our daily lives, there was the traditional post office. The stamps of each place and country had a collective value. Even today many people continue to collect stamps as a main hobby.
PLAYMOBIL DRESSED IN THE TRADITIONAL COSTUME OF SKOPELOS
A young Greek man, Mr. Petros Kaminiotis, inspired by his love of the Greek traditional dances started dressing the Playmobil in greek traditional costumes. The imposing costume of the island of Skopelos could not be missing from his collection. His collection has been exhibited in various folklore museums and events.
One year, in the framework of the 5th Festival of Traditional Dances “Diamantis Palaiologos”, Vakratsa Museum hosted the Playmobil collection of local costumes by Petros Kaminiotis, since the traditional bridal costume was prominent.
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