The traditional Ukrainian shirt with embroidery has a centuries-old history. And if you managed to acquire an antique exhibit for your collection, or received it as an inheritance from your great-grandmother, then you should remember that it requires special care. And here it does not matter whether it is one embroidered shirt or hundreds of them, in order to ensure their long "life", certain rules must be followed during storage.
Of course, I would like to immediately go to the rules themselves, but sometimes it is necessary to start with the collection of information. After all, this can not only significantly extend the "life" of a family heirloom or a collection exhibit, but also help determine the methods of care. It is usually this information that can turn an ordinary garment into something worth saving.
For example, who is the author, who wore it and when, what is the difference between the material and the embroidery. Maybe some stories related to this embroidered shirt.
Wedding couple, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Kornych village, 1933. Photo: I. Honchar's album "Ukraine and Ukrainians"
Some experts recommend even digitizing this information, supporting it with photos. You can take pictures of the overall plan of the embroidered shirt and its individual elements. Stop at embroidery and its interpretation.
Usually, recommendations for storing embroidered shirts can be found on the websites of museums where such exhibits are exhibited. Of course, some of the tips may seem very complicated at first glance, but sometimes it just seems that way.
First of all, you should avoid any exposure to direct sunlight. It is known that even new things burn out in the sun, what can we say about old embroidered shirts, which can be more than a dozen years old. Even scattered daylight can be dangerous for them.
Girls in holiday clothes, Sumy region, village. Vivkivtsi, early 20th century. Photo: Ivan Honchar Museum Collection
It is better to store embroideries in large boxes, where they are placed in a completely spread form and can lie on top of each other. However, it is better for each to create its own separate "place" to avoid friction and damage. Some collectors prefer hanging on hangers or mannequins. After all, it is believed that long-term storage in folded form leads to the appearance of outdated spots or bends.
The premises where such things are stored should be dry and sufficiently ventilated. It is necessary to monitor the level of humidity and temperature. Differences in these indicators should be avoided if possible.
Girls, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Verkhovynskyi district, 1960s-1970s. Photo: I. Honchar's album "Ukraine and Ukrainians"
As for wearing an old embroidered shirt, it is not recommended to wear it. Even once a year. Of course, you want to look at yourself in an ancient relic, but it is better to make a replica of it, and it is better to give an ancient shirt a place in the collection.
Tell me, do you have embroidery designs in your collections? Perhaps you can share your tips for storing them.
Source: old.honchar.org.ua
