Saturday 28 February 2009

Illustrated Book Of The Week - Bulgarian National Costume

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This is one of the jewels in my collection of fashion and costume books, more a folio than a book, it comprises of 60 thick sheets each with a beautiful costume illustration. Published in 1950 my copy is number 552 0f 5000. I discovered the collection some years ago at the Clignancourt flea market in Paris . I have been meaning to get them framed ever since , one day I'll have a whole wall lined with all 60.

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Not much more to say really there is a concise text in Russian, French and English, we learn that ' virtually the only outlet for popular creative expression in the past, national dress is indeed one of the most characteristic documents of Bulgarian culture.' and other not so interesting observations, what is truly inspiring is the restrained 50's style of the prints.

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Now download the classic "Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares vo1" on itunes and you'll be ready for the total experience.

6 comments:

  1. Hello,
    I just got back from Bulgaria where I managed to purchase a copy of this fabulous book from a street stall.
    I intend to donate it to the library here at the school where I run the fashion design program.
    Truly a spectacular find.
    Also I found a smaller but still wonderful book of Bulgarian patterns for the traditional cross stitch work as well as the actual garment shapes with photos of authentic items.

    The title is Bulgarian Bезба
    (don't know what the second word means).

    Yours,
    Bo Breda
    Art Institute of California/San Francisco

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  2. vezba-embroidery or piece of it

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  3. This is amazing! I'm very much interested in the folk costumes of the South Slavic nations, intending to buy folk costume books on Croatia as well as regional specific books (e.g. Sarajevo, Dubrovnik coast) and a book which shows costumes of Bulgaria but probably might wait til I get enough money!

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  4. Does it say where in Bulgaria the first set of costumes is from?

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  5. Does it say where in Bulgaria the first set of costumes is from?

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    1. It's 6 years later so I hope you see this... The costume on the right is from Pazardzhik area and the one on the left is from Nikopol.

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