A Sister’s Folk Costume

Zemgale folk costume. Made by Aina Ramane (née Besere, 1922–2012) in the 1930s in Latvia.

Aina Ramane made the Zemgale folk costume, maiden’s headdress, and sash while studying at the Zaļenieki School of Home Economics. The pendant brooch was made of silver by a craftsman in Jelgava in 1938. Aina took the costume with her as a refugee during WWII; from Germany Aina moved to the USA. There she commissioned the jeweller Antons Kivelnieks from Toronto, Canada, to make a circle brooch and silver buttons for the folk costume’s vest. The shawl for the costume was woven by master weaver Ausma Siliņa in Syracuse, USA, but without the traditional tablet-woven border because Siliņa could no longer undertake such a complex job at her age. The shirt has been mended several times as it has worn out over the years. Aina eventually gave the folk costume to her sister, Vita Ramane, who wore it when performing with the New York Latvian Lutheran Church choir and in the New York kokle and song ensemble led by Andrejs Jansons. This Zemgale folk costume has seen many performances on stages all over the world.

Donated by Vita Ramane; from the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre (LP2017.1435).

Aina Ramane in her own handmade Zemgale folk costume (3rd from left in row 3) with school friends in the park near the Zaļenieki School of Home Economics on 15 May 1938. Donated by Vita Ramane. From the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre.