Krakow Folk Costume
The Krakow costume was developed at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries and was the first peasant costume to be noticed by the upper social classes. It happened thanks to its uniqueness. It was the richest folk costume at that time. It differed from other costumes in terms of color and the similarity of some elements to the noble’s outfit (e.g. Krakow to the Confederate). The fully-fledged Krakow costume was formed in the second half of the 18th century. Back then it was fairly uniform. A breakthrough date in the history of Krakow’s costume was 1794. It appeared in national culture then thanks to the first Polish opera “The Miracle of the Might, or Krakowiacy i Górale”, and Tadeusz Kościuszko’s swearing of allegiance to the nation in the same year at the Market Square in Krakow, in a white Krakow russet coat raised him to a national symbol and national costume. In addition, the participation of Krakow peasants in the Kościuszko Uprising made the Krakow uniform a military uniform of the Krakus and Kosyniers. The division of the Krakow Land between the Republic of Krakow and the Austrian Partition, and the Russian Partition, caused the economic situation of Krakowiaks to diversify and linked them with other industrial centers. For this reason, the uniform of Krakow’s uniform was distinguished by the outfit of Eastern Cracovians, who had no possibility of commercial contacts with Krakow. For this reason, the outfit of Eastern Cracovians began to change. The national costume remained the Krakow costume – Western Cracovians living in the vicinity of Krakow, which became the mainstay of “Polishness”. In the mid-nineteenth century, in order to manifest their patriotism, it became fashionable among the aristocracy for the servants to wear the national Krakow costume. In the second half of the nineteenth century, Krakow flags began to be put on – representative equestrian units of Krakowiacy in festive costumes, participating in celebrations with important political and church guests, and at weddings. These Krakow flags survived until World War II. The next stage in the existence of the Krakow costume in the national culture was the fascination with this costume by the creators of Young Poland: Stanisław Wyspiański, Lucjan Rydel or Włodzimierz Tetmajer. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Krakow costume also began to be used by the Polish diaspora as a national costume and a way to show individuality.
Men’s Costume
The man wears a krakuska hat, a red cap surrounded by a black lamb, decorated with a bunch of peacock feathers and colorful ribbons. Over a white linen shirt decorated with a red ribbon at the neck, she puts on a knee-length sleeveless caftan made of dark cloth, with a red lining, trimmed with decorative tassels and buttons. The caftan is tied with a white leather belt studded with studs. Decorative plates called claps hang on the side of the belt. She wears a pair of light linen trousers with red stripes, tucked into high leather boots with uppers. The men put on a white coat with red insets as outerwear.
Women’s Costume
The woman’s headdress is a wreath of artificial flowers adorned with colorful ribbons flowing down her back. Over a snow-white, decorated with English embroidery, she puts on a velvet corset embroidered with colorful embroidery, decorated with shiny, multicolored sequins, beads, tassels, ribbons and ribbons. A flowery, richly wrinkled skirt is tied at the waist with a white, tulle apron called apron, decorated with intricate English embroidery. He wears shoes on his legs, usually red or black, tied with a red ribbon. The outfit is complemented by natural beads, the red of which contrasts beautifully with the white of the shirt.