Småland Costumes
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The dräkt (regional costume) Mary is wearing is part of the Nordiska Folkdancers costume collection. It was probably acquired by Nordiska around 1953 by Gordon Tracie. The costume may be older than that, made probably at least a few years before it was acquired for Nordiska. Over the years it has been adjusted for fit by Nordiska wearers.
When Mary checked out this dräkt from Nordiska Folkdancers, she was told it was from Småland in southeast Sweden. Her research has confirmed that it is from the Handbörd area of Kalmarslän, about 40 kilometer west of Kalmar, and about 50 kilometers inland from the Baltic coast in central Småland. It seems to be one color combination of several worn at the time it was obtained by Nordiska (probably early 1950's), apparently a dräkt in living tradition that could differ somewhat from wearer to wearer Components; the authentic pieces (made in Sweden) are: brick red skirt of lightweight wool; vertically striped cotton apron; vertically striped wool bodice with red cord-trimmed edges and peplum, laced in front;
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