For the Ukrainian people, vyshyvanka has always been not just a garment, but a symbol of love for Ukraine, loyalty to traditions and connection with previous generations.

Traditionally, embroidered shirts from different regions of Ukraine differ in style, color, and ornamentation. Today we will talk about how the embroidery of the Kyiv region appeared and what are its features.

HISTORY OF KYIV REGION EMBROIDERY

Embroidered shirts have existed since ancient times, the first signs of such clothing were found during the excavations of Scythian settlements. You can also find an embroidered shirt on the frescoes of St. Sophia Cathedral. It is impossible to say exactly when the embroidered shirt of the Kyiv region or other regions of Ukraine appeared, as it remains a mystery to Ukrainians.

PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF KYIV EMBROIDERY

Around the 10th-12th centuries, embroidery gained perfection, new styles, colors, and ornaments. Men's shirts were decorated only near the collar, while women's or girls' embroidery in Kyiv region was richly decorated. Patterns were applied to the sleeves, near the collar, skirt, etc. Soon, a tradition of embroidering ornaments with gold or silver threads appeared, which demonstrated the wealth of a person to the society. This color of threads was often used by clergymen and Ukrainians of noble families.

Together with the development of the culture of embroidery, many traditions have emerged, and now the color and type of ornament carries a whole story. Ordinary Ukrainians used to make ornaments on embroidered shirts from the Kyiv region using black and red threads. The fabric of the embroidery itself was usually white.

Red color - our people believed that this color fills with energy, it was a symbol of love, sun and life. So it is not surprising that red is one of the most popular colors used to create patterns on shirts.
Black color played a special role for our ancestors, as it has always been considered a symbol of the Ukrainian land and its fertility. It is hard to imagine this in the modern world, but the only breadwinner for our ancestors in those days was the fertile land of Ukraine.

The acquisition of sacred meaning by colors is far from the only tradition, in addition, there are many beliefs related to the embroidery of the Kyiv region. For example, our ancestors believed that if you dress a baby in an embroidered shirt made from a parent's, it will be happy. For boys, the first vyshyvanka was made from the sleeve of their father's shirt, and for girls, from their mother's.

OUTSTANDING MASTERS AND THEIR WORKS

The first historical figure who made a real art out of creating embroideries was Anna, the sister of the then Kyivan Prince Volodymyr Monomakh.

It is interesting to note that the prince was very supportive of the Ukrainian people's interest in creating Kyiv embroidery. In the 11th century, Anna created the first school for embroidery masters in Ukraine at the monastery.

Throughout the existence of embroidery, our history knows many truly talented craftswomen who put their hearts and souls into creating this sacred garment. An example of such a person is Nadiia Vakulenko, who graduated from the Reshetylivka School and received the title of Honored Master of Folk Art of Ukraine in 2006, and in 2018 this talented craftswoman became the director of the All-Ukrainian Center for Embroidery and Carpet Weaving.

TECHNIQUES OF EMBROIDERY OF KYIV EMBROIDERY

The main feature of Kyiv embroidery was its free cut and style. These shirts had a wide hem, puffed sleeves and a stand-up collar. The bottom of such embroidery was decorated with a special ornament - teeth.

TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES

Vyshyvankas were most often made of linen, cotton or hemp fabric. However, cotton became widely used only in the early 20th century, until then this fabric was too expensive. Kyiv embroidery was performed in many techniques, the most popular of which were:

cutting out;
platbands;
planking;
grain output;
typing;
topstitching;
stapling;
oblique surface.

MODERN APPROACHES AND INNOVATIONS

Modern designers continue the work of our ancestors to this day. On store shelves you can find many different embroidered shirts. Until now, embroidered shirts in the Kyiv region, which were decorated with handmade patterns, are most valued. Such clothes cost a lot of money, but they also carry the spirit of the Ukrainian people and their culture in its original form.

When creating Kyiv embroidery, a machine approach is also used, that is, the pattern is made using specially programmed equipment. Another approach is to apply a print that imitates the ornament of an embroidered shirt.

In addition to shirts, you can now see embroidered dresses, jackets, coats, jackets, and many other wardrobe items.

COLORS AND MOTIFS OF KYIV REGION EMBROIDERY

Men's shirts in the Kyiv region had a rather restrained design. Low collar, wide cuffed sleeves, and fasteners at the neck were the elements that were inherent in men's shirts of that time. Kyiv embroidery was applied to the ends of the sleeves and the collar of the shirt. To create the pattern, red and black threads were used.

Women's embroidery of the Kyiv region contained unique ornaments made with blue and red cotton threads. Such women's shirts had wide sleeves, gathered at the shoulders.

Older people in the Kyiv region usually wore minimalist embroidered shirts with gray and blue ornaments.

In addition to traditional techniques, Kyivan embroidery was characterized by simple ornaments, which were made in the form of geometric shapes that resembled leaves and flowers. The main figures were rhombuses, stars, and squares, from which craftswomen made the necessary pattern.

MATERIALS FOR KYIV EMBROIDERY

The real embroidery of Kyiv region was made of homespun cloth. In ancient times, Ukrainian craftswomen used linen fabric with the addition of hemp. It is said that it took about 7 kilometers of thread to create one embroidered shirt.

At that time, cotton was a luxury item because it was expensive and brought to Kyiv region from the East. Cotton threads were used for sewing shirts for wealthy people or people of noble families.

Later on, cotton became available to almost every Ukrainian family due to the mastery of the technology of its factory production. Since then, Kyiv vyshyvanka has been increasingly made of cotton fabric, and this tradition has survived to this day.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF KYIV REGION EMBROIDERY

Embroidery of Kyiv region or any other region of Ukraine is a cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people. It is a tradition and belief that we have carried through the centuries. For us, this piece of clothing has a sacred meaning; this shirt is a talisman against evil spirits, a symbol of belonging to the Ukrainian family. And the ornament, color and style of this work of art can tell you a whole story.