Alena Křížová
The Role of the Svéráz Folk Costume in Czech Society in the Second Half of the 19th Century
During the second half of the 19th century, the residents of the Czech and Moravian countryside began putting away their traditional folk costumes and replaced them by ready-made clothing. This new affinity for international fashion was criticized by supporters of folk culture who argued that Czech identity will disappear along with the disrobed folk costumes. The effort to create a unified Czech national costume culminating after 1848 was not a success. In spite of this, clothing articles that were to demonstrate an affinity for Czech culture were recommended for social events over the next several decades: the čamara cloak for men and a Slovak bodice for the women. A stylized copy of the female Svéráz folk costume consisting of a shirt, skirt and bodice in the tricolour colors, which was financially accessible to the wider public became popular at the end of the century. This outfit was popular with the general public and remained so for the entire course of the 20th century up the present, both in the city as well as in rural areas.
design by Bedřich Vémola
