Leventis Municipal Museum

A two pieces garment inspired by Levantine or Eastern Mediterranean historical styles influenced by european dress. It features a fitted bodice that transitions into a loose and flowing lower section, designed for comfort and practicality. The neckline is modest, roun, and the sleeves are either long and fitted indicative of the era. The material appears lightweight silk which were commonly used fabrics in warm climates. Its texture suggests a plain weave, with decorative elements like simple embroidery, trims and lace patterns, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. The color palette is subdued, predominantly neutral or earthy tones such as beige, brown, or soft pastels, reflecting the natural dyes. This dress exemplifies traditional attire designed for functionality while maintaining elegance, harmonizing with the cultural and environmental influences.

A couple of peasants.  The man is wearing a dark coloured vest over a light coloured shirt, a black baggy knee-breeches (vraka) and leather boots. The woman is wearing a dark coloured shirt,  a light coloured skirt and a headscarf. 

A group of men sitting in front of a coffee shop in Lefkara 

Men photographed while harvesting the crop. The one in the foreground was wearing a woven sleeveless top over a light coloured  shirt,  probably black, baggy knee-breeches (vraka) and a light-coloured striped sash  around his waist. On his head he wears a white a scarf to protect head and ears. 

Young men and women dressed in traditional Greek Cypriot costumes. The male costume comprised of a shirt, a vraka (baggy pleated breeches) of black cotton, zostra (a coloured silk sash), yelekkin (sleeveless waistcoat), a black headscarf, and podines (top-boots). The woman on the left is wearing the traditional 'Amalia' type costume that was linked with the name of Amalia, Queen of Greece (1836-1862), and was established in urban centres in Cyprus by the mid 19th century as a variation of the Greek national costume. It is made up of a dress or skirt above a silk chemise and a felt or velvet jacket, the sarka, with gold ornamentation. The waist was girded by a belt with a filigree clasp or a tied sash with embroidered ends. The head was covered with scarves or, in the urban original, with a fez. The Cypriot fez, which was different from the one used in Greece, had two black silk tassels, a short one which was fixed to the crown and covered the whole cap in a radial pattern, and another one falling to the shoulder on the side. The fez was decorated with garlands of flowers made of tiny pearls and braided with silk. The woman on the right was wearing a costume with  sayia, a long-sleeved coat open down the front, worn over pantaloons decorated with woven embroidery. On her waist she wore a colourful headscarf tight as a sash. 

A man dressed in the traditional urban Greek Cypriot costume was performing the traditional 'dance of the sickle'.  The costume was worn in the urban centres until the end of the 19th century comprised of a shirt, a vraka (baggy pleated breeches) of black cotton, zostra (a coloured silk sash), yelekkin (sleeveless waistcoat), a black headscarf, and podines (top-boots) 

Two young women dressed in Greek Cypriot traditional costumes were photographed while performing the traditional 'Antikiristos' dance. The woman on the left is dressed in the 'Amalia' type costume while the one on the right is wearing the costume with sayia. The 'Amalia' type costume that was linked with the name of Amalia, Queen of Greece (1836-1862), and was established in urban centres in Cyprus by the mid 19th century as a variation of the Greek national costume. It is made up of a dress or skirt above a silk chemise and a felt or velvet jacket, the sarka, with gold ornamentation. The waist was girded by a belt with a filigree clasp or a tied sash with embroidered ends. The head was covered with scarves or, in the urban original, with a fez. The Cypriot fez, which was different from the one used in Greece, had two black silk tassels, a short one which was fixed to the crown and covered the whole cap in a radial pattern, and another one falling to the shoulder on the side. The fez was decorated with garlands of flowers made of tiny pearls and braided with silk.  The sayia, a long-sleeved coat open down the front, was worn over pantaloons decorated with woven embroidery. On her waist, thh woman on the right, she tied a colourful headscarf. 

A young woman carrying a jug on her shoulder. She is wearing the 'Amalia' type costume that was linked with the name of Amalia, Queen of Greece (1836-1862), and was established in urban centres in Cyprus by the mid 19th century as a variation of the Greek national costume. It is made up of a dress or skirt above a silk chemise and a felt or velvet jacket, the sarka, with gold ornamentation. The waist was girded by a belt with a filigree clasp or a tied sash with embroidered ends. The head was covered with scarves or, in the urban original, with a fez. The Cypriot fez, which was different from the one used in Greece, had two black silk tassels, a short one which was fixed to the crown and covered the whole cap in a radial pattern, and another one falling to the shoulder on the side. The fez was decorated with garlands of flowers made of tiny pearls and braided with silk.

Young woman carrying a jug on her shoulder. She is wearing a light coloured jacket, probably white, over a light coloured shirt, a dark coloured striped skirt and a colourful headscarf. 

A woman photographed sitting by a water spring dressed in the traditional 'Amalia' type costume that was linked with the name of Amalia, Queen of Greece (1836-1862), and was established in urban centres in Cyprus by the mid 19th century as a variation of the Greek national costume. It is made up of a dress or skirt above a silk chemise and a felt or velvet jacket, the sarka, with gold ornamentation. The waist was girded by a belt with a filigree clasp or a tied sash with embroidered ends. The head was covered with scarves or, in the urban original, with a fez.  The Cypriot fez, which was different from the one used in Greece, had two black silk tassels, a short one which was fixed to the crown and covered the whole cap in a radial pattern, and another one falling to the shoulder on the side. The fez was decorated with garlands of flowers made of tiny pearls and braided with silk.