The LX Costume Collection

Levendia-X created their costume collection based on the curriculum taught over the past 10 years. Suites put together representing the mainland, Makedonia and the Aegean Islands are perfectly complemented by their respective costumes. Our collection consists of the following costumes: the Desfina and the Foustanella (representing mainland Greece), the Yannitsari — our Boules (representing Naoussa, Makedonia), the Bourazani (representing Epirus), the Empona (representing Rhodes), the Vraka (representing the Aegean Islands) and the Kratero (representing Florina, Makedonia.)

WOMEN'S COSTUME

Generally, a woman's costume consists of the following items:
1) a long chemise (poukamiso);
2) a sleeveless vest (segouna);
3) an apron (podia);
4) a sash (zonari);
5) a head-scarf (mandili);
6) shoes or other foot coverings;
7) various pieces of decorative jewelry to decorate the chest, head, neck, and/or other areas

The Desfina (mainland Greece; Sterea Ellada)

The women's Desfina is a peasant dress found in the region of Fokida. The main centres in this region consist of Delphi, Amphissa, Arahova and Desfina (hence the name.) This is a white long-sleeved dress over which is worn a long white vest (segouna) decorated with black and red embroidery. A red velvet apron with gold embroidery is tied above the waist and adorned with a black sash trimmed in gold (podoskino). This accessory is finished at each end with gold tassels, to keep it in place. The costume consists of a headpiece made of a large triangular piece of light-weight cotton and is trimmed with pompoms. The costume is finished with strands of gold coins worn across the chest and a matching set of coin earring. This represented the unmarried woman's dowry, therefore the greater the number of coins, the greater the dowry.

The Empona (Rhodes; Dodecanese Islands)

rhodes This costume consists of a hand woven white cotton chemise, embroidered with light-coloured threads at the hem line. A black cotton or silk-finished dress is worn over the chemise. The dress is fitted at the bosom, but pleated and free-flowing at the skirt. The skirt is decorated with rows of bright green, yellow and red ribbons. A hand woven, dark maroon sash is tied around the waist. The head scarf, either blue, green or red brocade, is folded into a triangle shape and tied around the head in such an intricate manner that the shape of a rose appears at the side of the head. The costume is completed with leather boots of unusual construction. Two colours are used: the bottom half of the boot is beige and the upper part is black. Originally, the boots were embroidered. However later, colored threads were used instead within the seams. Levendia-X's Empona costume does not include the boots, however, since character shoes are worn for performance purposes. Rows of gold coins may be hung from the shoulders down to the knees for a bride to show her dowry.

The Kratero (Florina, Makedonia)

This traditional costume of Kratero is the most recent addition to the Levendia-X collection. It consists of a white cotton shirt Embroidered at the sleeves with coloured thread. The bodice Is covered by a neck scarf, made from a piece of pale blue cotton cloth. On top of this, a short, black segouni is worn,layerecd by a wollen sash, 2m in length. This costumes is further adorned by an apron woven wotj black and yellow yarn. Coins also complement this costume which symbolize the gifts offered by the groom's family. This costume is topped-off with the headscarf, worn tightly over the head.

MEN'S COSTUME

Generally, man's costume consists of the items below:

1) a shirt (poukamiso);
2) a skirt/ kilt (foustanella) or pants;
3) leg coverings (kaltses);
4) leg garters (gonatares/kaltsodetes);
5) a sash (zonari);
6) a hat (fesi/koukos);
7) shoes or other foot coverings (tsarouhia/boots);
8) various decorative belts or jewelry often decorate the chest or other areas

The Foustanella (mainland Greece; Sterea Ellada)

Worn by diplomats and warriors, this costume was declared the national costume for men. It is found in mountainous areas and was worn mainly in the Central and Southern parts of Greece. The costume derives its name from the pleated white skirt (foustanella) made by triangular shaped pieces of cloth called langolia which are sewn together diagonally. The Foustanella skirt consists of 400 pleats symbolizing the years during which Greece was under Ottoman rule. The Greek Fighters of the 1821 revolution wore the Foustanella while fighting the Turks. Today it serves as the official uniform of the Evzones, the Presidential Guard, who keep their vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens. The remainder of the costume is composed of a white shirt with a very wide flowing sleeve, and embroidered woolen vest called the fermeli and has panels hanging from the back. The vest can be blue, black or maroon, the latter worn by the captain of the guard. A sash (zonari) is worn around the waist, and pointed shoes which have large pompoms (tsarouhia).

The Bourazani (Peasant Costume; Ioannina, Epirus)

This costume is worn in Epirus, particularly in the villages near Ioannina, but is also worn by the Sarakatsani and the Vlachs in other regions. This outfit consists of distinct white trousers (bourazana panovraki/tsaxiri), a sleeveless waistcoat for daily wear (yileki), tsarouhia and a black felt cap (skoufi/kalpaki).

The Vraka (Dodecanese Islands)

This costume, which is worn in some variation on all the Aegean islands, is the classical type of male dress. This consists of a white shirt, the black baggy trousers (vraka), a red sash (zonari) and a sleeveless-crossed waistcoat (yileki). This costume is usually completed with a pair of black leather boots.