Waistcoat (zimbouni)

A sleeved waistcoat (zimbouni) made of cotton alatzia with burgundy and yellow stripes, similar to the fabric of the vest CMLE 2686/2. The neck features a low standing collar. The front consists of four pieces, while the back is a single piece. The sleeves are sewn vertically to the body. Under the armpit, gussets (two triangular pieces of fabric, joined at their longest sides) have been added for ease of movement. At the lower ends, the two sleeves have an additional piece, a cuff with a height of 14 cm. and an opening of 12 cm. The opening of the sleeves is adorned with soutache with four loops for buttoning. All the buttons are missing. The opening of the sleeves is emphasised with two rows of white seams. On the front, the two pieces that cross over the chest are of triangular shape and fasten with two external black bone buttons on the left side, and with one internal button, of which only the loop is preserved. The two loops on the triangular piece of the right side are 9 and 11 cm. away from the bottom end, respectively, while the distance from the inner loop to the bottom end is 9 cm. The soutache of the back runs also along the front side, the bottom edge, and the collar. Additional emphasis is given by white seams all around the front sides and the collar. On the right side, there is an internal pocket with a handmade seam of black cord. The horizontal opening is decorated all around with soutache and double white seams. In the upper part, at the centre of the opening there is a small loop. The zimbouni is lined with beige cotton with double reinforcement on the left seam, which extends to the joining point with the left sleeve. The seams and the sleeve on the right side are also reinforced.   Dimensions: height 50 cm. width 45 cm. Sleeves: length 59 cm., width 19 cm.   Donated by: N. Triantafyllou. Purchased for 2.50 Cypriot pounds.