In the Romanian folk dress, the embroidered shirt is the essential piece, the cult-element recognized as "La Blouse Roumaine" in the drawing of French painter Henri Matisse. Over the years, it has been reinterpreted by famous designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dries Van Noten, Tom Ford. However, for Valentina Vidrașcu, it represents the essence of the Romanian folk costume and the core around which all her collections revolve.
In a Europe disconcerted by globalization policies, any form of affiliation to a local culture must be supported. In the spirit of this idea, the embroidered peasant shirt is much more than a piece of clothing. It is an identity symbol, a way to express love for Romanian folk values. Over all these years, the Moldovan designer has persevered in creating stylized embroidered shirts and dresses, offering lovers of beauty a refined product, as authentic as it is current. Made of silk veil and velvet, the embroidered shirt is a unique expression of ”eternal femininity”. The stylized ”ia” remains an a-temporal piece that any woman can wear, from generation to generation, at work or on a day of celebration. "The ”ia” was created and perfected for centuries on end by the artistic sense of the Romanian peasant woman. I wish every Romanian woman had one in her wardrobe, not only as a way to adhere to the Romanian tradition and national space, but also as an element of authenticity and originality in the contemporary landscape”, explains Valentina Vidrașcu. Together with the ”ia”, another central piece of Valentina Vidrașcu`s collections is the embroidered dress. Made by traditional methods, the embroidered peasant shirts and dresses represent the defining elements in designer Valentina Vidrașcu`s universe.
Exhibiting at Wood&Wool // Hand Woven Rug
Ever since 1999, when she launched her first collection inspired by the traditional Romanian folk costume, Valentina Vidrașcu has gone on to reverently create pieces that put the national garb and its symbols front and center, giving a new identity to items such as the ”ia” (embroidered peasant shirt), ”catrința” (homespun skirt), the traditional vest, or the girdle. In their elaborate weave, Valentina Vidrașcu`s creations blend technique and rigor with respect for the value of the traditional costume.
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In a Europe disconcerted by globalization policies, any form of affiliation to a local culture must be supported. In the spirit of this idea, the embroidered peasant shirt is much more than a piece of clothing. It is an identity symbol, a way to express love for Romanian folk values. Over all these years, the Moldovan designer has persevered in creating stylized embroidered shirts and dresses, offering lovers of beauty a refined product, as authentic as it is current. Made of silk veil and velvet, the embroidered shirt is a unique expression of ”eternal femininity”. The stylized ”ia” remains an a-temporal piece that any woman can wear, from generation to generation, at work or on a day of celebration. "The ”ia” was created and perfected for centuries on end by the artistic sense of the Romanian peasant woman. I wish every Romanian woman had one in her wardrobe, not only as a way to adhere to the Romanian tradition and national space, but also as an element of authenticity and originality in the contemporary landscape”, explains Valentina Vidrașcu. Together with the ”ia”, another central piece of Valentina Vidrașcu`s collections is the embroidered dress. Made by traditional methods, the embroidered peasant shirts and dresses represent the defining elements in designer Valentina Vidrașcu`s universe.
Exhibiting at Wood&Wool // Hand Woven Rug
Ever since 1999, when she launched her first collection inspired by the traditional Romanian folk costume, Valentina Vidrașcu has gone on to reverently create pieces that put the national garb and its symbols front and center, giving a new identity to items such as the ”ia” (embroidered peasant shirt), ”catrința” (homespun skirt), the traditional vest, or the girdle. In their elaborate weave, Valentina Vidrașcu`s creations blend technique and rigor with respect for the value of the traditional costume.
