Folk Costumes of the Mavrovo Plain and Gorna Reka (Upper River)

The female costume in the Mavrovo Plain and Gorna Reka (Upper River) compliments the costume of Gorni Polog with two characteristic aprons – front and back. Placing two aprons skutina over a cotton shirt is a very old component of the Folk Costume that goes back to the Ancient Slav cultural tradition.

The aprons of the female costume have specific differences in the fabric which they are made of, the way they are decorated which is more obvious on the back apron skutina. In the Mavrovo Plain the apron skutina is made of a dark red wool and is ruffled, whereas in Gorna Reka (Upper River) the back apron skutina is the same as the front one – a woolen fabric, embroidered and decorated with fringes. A black opregach, a pleated dulychen for religious observances, and a razdulychen for every day are also worn in this region. The front apron skutina opregach is made of a red woolen fabric with embroidered vegetal motifs. The embroidered vegetal motifs on the apron skutina are specific and characteristic for these regions. The other clothing items of the female costume, the dolama and jamadan are made of a cotton fabric klashna or of velvet with extensively opulent decorations of applied glitter décor. What is specific for this region is the three types of socks: kalchini, chulki – socks with no heels and tozlutsi – foot pieces made of klashna. They are worn together and make up one clothing item.

The male costume compliments the Miyatsi costume differing only in the decoration of the upper clothing items where embroidery of glitter décor and braids are present.

Attachment: Bridal costume from the Mavrovo Plain