Folk Costumes of Golo Brdo

Golo Brdo is a spacious region on the border towards Albania. There are only three villages in Macedonia and the rest are on the other side of the border in Albania. The costume of Golo Brdo is distinguishing by the application of the orange color that dominates and is not present in other Macedonian regions. The female costume is characterized by the many items of clothing is has and the rich fringes made of wool and glitter décor, its densely embroidered motifs embellished with glitter décor, braids and optoki. The bridal costume is distinct by its remarkable creativity and opulent décor. The shirts of the female costume is made of a white cotton fabric, richly embroidered on the sleeves with embroidered breast pieces called parti placed over the shirt. The clothing made of a white cotton-fabric klashenik, hip long, richly embroidered on the breast, a long sash with thick woolen fringes on both ends and the apron bokchenitsa are elements of the female costume of this region.

A detail of the bridal and religious observance costume is the zoban – white and sleeveless item of clothing made of a cotton fabric klashna decorated with embroidery using woolen thread and a woven sash – prepashka. On such occasions, a bovcha - a small apron decorated with long woolen fringes is put on instead of bokchenitsa. The costume is embellished with an abundance of metal jewelry: pobranik, uzda, ushnitsi (earrings), gyerdan (necklace), korst (cross).

The winter costume consists of a short kusale, made of a white cotton fabric, richly embellished with optoki and fringes.

The women of Golo Brdo wear a kind of a basket on their heads, a small square cotton fabric cover with decorations – fringes made of wool and glitter décor.