Never Worn, Yet It’s Travelled the World

Rucava folk costume. Made by Emma Kušķe (née Ozoliņa, 1912-?) in the late 1940s in Germany.

The folk costume was made in a refugee camp either in Itzehoe or Eutin, Germany. The Rucava skirt was made from a dyed army blanket. It was made by Emma Kušķe for her daughter Ausma to wear while singing in the choir at the Latvian song festival in Lübeck. In 1948 the folk costume was taken along to New Zealand, then to Hong Kong and Australia. Ausma never wore the folk costume.

Donated by Ausma Taylor; from the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre (LP2015.227).

Vitauts, Elza and Daumants Hazners at Midsummer’s Eve celebration in Augstdorf, Germany, 1955. Donated by Daumants Hazners. From the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre.