Culture Costumes Kavai, women’s costume of Olympos Kavai, women’s costume of Olympos Καβάι, γυναικεία φορεσιά της Ολύμπου
Placeholder content: the costumes, colours and descriptions are stand-ins and not yet checked. The drawings are schematic, not reconstructions.
Parts of the costume Tap a piece to see it on the costume.
1 Mallitiko A wool kerchief with a saffron-yellow centre and deep red corners printed with flowers. It is tied low on the forehead over the inner kerchiefs, so the flowers show. 2 Chemise A white chemise, with white vraka under it. 3 Short bodice A short white bodice under the kavai. 4 Kavai One length of cloth front and back, split at the front into two wings, with triangular gores at the sides. Embroidered in red, yellow and blue silk at the neck, edges, hem and sleeves. 5 Chrysokondoso A short jacket of black felt with gold embroidery. 6 Sash Of printed calico, black with small orange flowers, holding the kavai’s wings in place. 7 Sakkofoustano The girls’ dress, which stays on under the kavai. 8 Stockings and yeminia Orange knitted stockings and slippers with patent leather uppers.
Costume Women’s
Occasion Festive In Olympos on Karpathos a girl put on the kavai at fifteen, when she counted as a woman, over the sakkos. The kavai is dark blue or black, woven by the women themselves and dyed by a dyer, with coloured embroidery along its edges. Its front wings were folded up for work and let down for church and mourning. On the head a flowered wool kerchief is tied over the inner kerchiefs.
Danced in it All 15 dances More from the region All costumes: Dodecanese