Latvia and its traditional folk costume – Liechtensteinisches LandesMuseum

The traditional folk costume is one of the most important cultural treasures of Latvia. It is a living heritage that combines craft traditions developed over the centuries and passed down through the generations. Moreover, the folk costume is now an important and striking symbol of Latvian identity. The Latvian tradition of the Song and Dance Festival also plays an important role in this respect, which is included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and attracts more than 40,000 participants to Riga.

The style of the folk costumes differs considerably depending on the region. The canon of Latvian folk costume dates back to the local traditions of the five cultural and historical regions of Latvia (these are Vidzeme, Kurzeme, Latgale, Zemgale, Sēlija in the Latvian language) and is based on examples from museum collections.

The travelling exhibition organised by the Latvian Cultural Centre presents 14 traditional costumes that reflect the diversity of Latvian culture in terms of period, region and culture. Some also relate exciting stories of how they were created and worn, which are inextricably linked to Latvia’s eventful history.