Womans shirt. (Mirgorod region.)
The Ukrainian state museum of architecture and every day life has a collection of textile and clothes, that counts 20 thousand samples from all regions of Ukraine. This collection is a result of a research that was carried out during many years - from 1969. The significant part of the clothes collection consists of samples that were bought in Poltava oblast: shirts, skirts, belts, blouses, kerchiefs, coats, jackets, shoes. The unique collection impresses by its beauty, talent of masters. During many years Poltava oblast was cultural and economic center of the whole Ukraine, that's why the clothes production of the oblast was highly developed in the middle of the XIXth - beginning of XXth centuries. The old design remained longer in the northern part, in southern parts changes took place quicker. Yevheniya Hayova, who works in the museum, gives the general characteristics of Poltava sorochka (shirt) - the oldest type of every day clothes. Sorochka was considered to be a person's double, a thing that had miraculous force. That's why there is a number of legends, traditions and customs around it. Women's sorochky were both underwear and outer clothing. The peculiar feature is white color. They were made from home-weaved linen both in one part and in two parts - an upper part and a lower one. The author tells in details about the peculiarities of cutting, design and decorations of sleeves in different regions of the area. She divided decorations according to their motives and sceneries into different types, researched local terminology and artistic and functional role of a design for clothes for different usage.