Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse

Between 22-25 June ASTRA Museum organizes the event Universal Day of the Traditional Blouse, now in its 10th edition. Ten years of the story of the Traditional Romanian Blouse (Ia), ten editions in which ASTRA Museum has grown a community dedicated to the traditional blouse and shirt in Sibiu. Since 2014 and until now we count 10 editions that have dedicated the story of the most beloved piece of folk wear - the traditional blouse or shirt.

For four days, visitors are invited to be scouts and researchers of traditions and customs, storytellers and tasters; to learn the story of the Romanian blouse from those who live, research and carry on the tradition: 50 folk craftspeople, joined by museum specialists and restorers. The village paths of the ASTRA Museum will be lined with a fair of traditional blouses and objects, contemporary design, flowers and braided hair. There will be 36 demonstrative and interactive workshops, ranging from weaving workshops, to workshops on printing flowers on textiles or dyeing with natural colours, making ornaments, embroidering motifs on the blouses, felting, metalwork, painting on glass or leather processing andstorytelling workshops.

For the afternoon of 24 June, on Midsummer's Day itself, this year's programme includes ride in IE with Posh bikes and the picnic in the Country Fair, then the concert of the young Titerași from Galeșu, the contemporary musical arrangements inspired by ancient tunes bearing the creative signature of DJ Silly Conductor and the concert of the band CORBU. On Sunday 25 June, as we have become accustomed to for ten years now, the Bezded churchyard will host The Midsummer's Hourinitiated by artists of the School of Arts and Crafts "Ilie Micu". Also on Sunday we expect you to participate in the contest "The most beautiful traditional blouse (Ia)", after you will have found, through the coffers of the grandparents and ancestors, the clothes of light and celebration cared with sanctity for decades. Yes, we want you to tell the world the story of the Ia, we want you to tell us the story of you and your nation! You show us and tell us the story, we award the most beautiful Ia and the most inspiring story.

On the eve of Midsummer's Day, on June 23, three major cultural institutions from Sibiu joined hands in the programme dedicated to the Traditional Blouse: ASTRA County Library, Brukenthal National Museum and ASTRA Museum. We find, thus, from exhibitions with the most valuable pieces of peasant costumes from southern Transylvania, to testimonies from over the centuries and a round table dedicated to cultural and creative industries.

More details in the blog post.