Traditional aprons

Aprons are an unquestionable ritual and social symbol of the woman.
They are among the most deciphered female symbols in rituals and are recognized as a social marker.

Though simple in essence, they are often made with a joining seam and attached ties. Their decoration is distinctive, standing out through colors, ornaments, fringes, pompoms, tassels, and other elements that reflect regional and local specifics. In fact, it was mostly through the aprons that Bulgarians could distinguish their own (local) traditional attire from that of outsiders (from other villages).

Alongside the impression of the richly embroidered shirts worn by Bulgarian women, foreign travelers visiting our lands from the 16th century onward have specifically noted their colorful aprons. Observing them in the late 19th century, Czech historian K. J. Jireček referred to them as “guberi” (thick woven cloths).