The Folk Costumes of Zheleznik, Kichevia and Poreche

Although there are differences in the manner of clothing and decorating of specific parts the Folk Costumes of the mountainous areas Zheleznik, Kichevija and Poreche, which were more obvious in the past, they still have many mutual features.

The women in these regions wear a long tunic-like shirt decorated with densely embroidered motifs in a bright red and yellow color. Over this shirt they wear a sleeveless, hip long klashenik made of a white cotton fabric klashna, heavily decorated with braids of glitter décor and embroidered travtsi . A long sash made of wool is put around the waist and an apron skutnik with rectilinear patterns whose colors represent an embroidered unity on the shirt and other items of clothing. The head cover is a tulben made of a thin white fabric with decorative beads. The guna ( a long peasant garment) made of a black cotton fabric klashna decorated with braids and bikme is the clothing young women wear for religious observances.

The clothing items for the bridal costume so-called the big guvealski are the most beautiful and most decorated. A special bridal head cover from the region of Poreche is the lavishly embroidered ubrus with seashell trimming and fringes and is at the apical point of creative achievements of the Macedonian woman. These ubruses (long embroidered kerchief with fringes) were used until the end of the 19^th century except for the one used for decoration, which according to popular belief had an apotheosis role.

The male costume of these three regions also carries much resemblance. It consists of the clothing items bechvi and jamadan of a thick white fabric made of wool, just like the cattle-breeding and mountain costume. It also has a sash placed over the shirt, which is decorated with embroidery on the breast.

The religious observance costume consists of a fermele ( a short vest) made of dark cotton fabric klashna or choya and a knee length dolama made of a white cotton fabric klashna decorated with black braids. Motley socks made of wool and opintsi (footwear) with woolen shoelaces, so-called opchanitsi are worn on the feet. A shallow black hat called keche is worn on the head. A very characteristic feature of the male costume of the region of Poreche is the resachko kopare made of a thick black woolen fabric, a broad collar and fringes that can also serve as head protection. A special clothing item for shepherds is the guna (a long peasant garment) made of a thick woolen fabric decorated with white braids which serves as excellent protection in cold and humid conditions.