Ceremonial Costume - Apron, Albanian, Female, circa 1900

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Where is it from?

A User Footscray, Australia
A User Footscray, Australia
B Other Association (See Comments) Krujë, Albania

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Summary:: Apron which reflects the traditional style from the Dumre region in central Albania. It was made around 1900 and was purchased in 1997 by Mustafe and Sanije Memishi in Kruja, Albania during their first pilgrimage back to their homeland after migrating to Australia in the 1960s. The costume was selected by their daughters Esmine and Lirije who were drawn to its simple folkloric design. The Memishi daughters wore the costume to the Albanian Festival at Footscray Park up until the mid 2000s.

This is a special occasion costume worn at weddings, engagements and sacred cultural ceremonies. It is a simple style of dress, enhanced through a variety of decorative elements including textures, weaves, and colours. The costume would traditionally have been further adorned with decorative jewellery, usually in the form of a coin necklace. This jewellery would have been presented to the wearer on special occasions and placed in an embroidered wool woven tote, made to hold gifts and items when attending functions in distant villages. The dress apron and scarf enable the wearer to continue their domestic duties while remaining respectably attired, according to the requirements of Albanian society of the early 1900s.
Description:: Cotton apron in red featured weave with black and cream striped design. There is embroidered strip detail in a horizontal line across centre. It is drawn at top corners and there are woven strings at each top end to tie it at the waist.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from Sanije & Mustafe Memishi, 2008

Discipline:	History
Dimensions:	860 mm (Width), 840 mm (Length)

More information

Tagged with:	albanian communities, albanian immigration, cultural maintenance, cultural traditions, muslims in australia, immigration, brought goods, national costumes
Themes this item is part of:	Mustafe & Sanije Memishi, Albanian Migrants, 1960s, Cultural Diversity Collection, Migration Collection, Clothing & Textiles Collection
Primary Classification:	CULTURAL IDENTITY
Secondary Classification:	Ethnicity - Clothing
Tertiary Classification:	regional costume
Place & Date Made:	Dumre, Albania, circa 1900
Other Association (See Comments):	Sanije & Mustafe Memishi, Kruja, Albania, 1997 Purchasers of Item
User:	Miss Lirije Memishi, Footscray, Victoria, Australia, 1997-2005
User:	Miss Esmine Memishi, Footscray, Victoria, Australia, 1997-2005
References:	Kurbet. The continuing journey of Albanians in Victoria, Immigration Museum Community Gallery room brochure, 2007-2008