Traditional Greek costumes of north Evia

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• published: 19 Dec 2014
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Υποστηρίξτε την καμπάνια μας για την έκδοση του βιβλίου στο indiegogo. Support our crowdfunding campaign at indiegogo in order to publish the book. When I was a little child, my grand-mother used to tell me stories for the people of her village. She was describing with passion their life and culture, so hard and difficult that many of them travelled abroad to have a better chance in life, and she showed me the handcrafts of her mother, embroidered with silk and gold, made beside the fireplace, on the light of a candle. I got really impressed from it and was proud when I wore the traditional costume in national feasts, looking forward to learn more for my ancestors. When I grew up, I realized that every place in Greece has a unique traditional identity. Costumes varied from place to place reflecting the sense of aesthetics of the society and followed the morals and traditions of it. The textiles, the embroideries, the quality and quantity of clothes showed not only the financial situation of the family but also the historic continuity, the state of women in the society and the elegance of the person wearing them. Moreover the handcrafted jewels ornamenting the outfits, reflected the art of the greek goldsmiths and they were strongly connected with marriage, as they were offered by the groom as a sign of the betrothal and reward for the dowry. I collected enough material to present you a book showing the treasures of the folk civilization taken out of a research that had more than ten years to be completed and documented by its bibliography, consisting of about 200 references from old books and personal testimonies. 125 colorful photos guide the reader through time and culture. Rare embroideries, dresses and textiles are taken off the closets and are photographed for first time, to inspire the artists and let the collectors know about them. Exclusive silver and gold-plated jewels, hidden for many years, are exposed to the lens and show their glamour and art of the greek goldsmiths. 19th century greek silver and gold coins, used then as decorative elements, constituted furthermore a display of wealth. The traditional costumes presented in this book, seem to be the development and theevolution of the byzantine attitudes. The ancient greek chiton, the roman stolam and later the byzantine dalmatiki were substituted by the greek folk chemises. The later, richly decorated with floral and geometrical patterns seem also to have a relationship with ancient worships, since ancient gods’ symbols are found embroidered on the chemises’ hem to transfer fertility and beauty on the woman. All types of flowers parade on women’s clothes in exceptional makeshift designs and symbols like the triangle and the snake, found in many civilizations of the world like the Aztecs and Egyptians, can also be found on the garments to protect the superstitious Greeks from magic and evil eye, showing the global spread of symbols among human social groups. Moreover the jewels share with the ancient ones the same forms and designs, and furthermore the goldsmiths have made them with the same ancient techniques, showing the historical continuity of greek silverware. As my grand-mother did, I would like to tell you the story behind the greek traditional art, induce the memories and inspire you. I would also like to introduce to the lovers of folk civilizations a new undiscovered world which was not exposed to people before this effort takes place. I welcome you to this travel back to the past and induce you to fund this bilingual book (greek / english) so as it will be published and reach as many people as it can. In order to publish the book, some essential publishing work must be done. The book's design, printing and distribution has been assigned to a Greek publishing house (Fylatos Publishing). We plan to release the book simultaneously on more than 62 countries as an ebook and a printed book. The cost associated with the design of the book is 800 euros or 1000 usd. Furthermore the circulation of the printed book requires printing at least a small batch of premium quality books. This is planned to cost 250 euros or 300 usd. The cost of the designing and finalizing the ebook is estimated to be around 300 euros or 490 usd . Every person that helps us gets something. Whether a thanks you note on an old fashioned post card or a valuable piece of jewelry inspired by the traditional art of Greece. Publishing this book as a printed book and an ebook, is the only way to save, learn, protect, be inspired and continue the traditional culture and deliver it to the new generations of people, which is not only a matter of a small social group but a world heritage.