It’s a picture of my mom’s sister Olya Chorna (Kozina) in a light-colored shirt and her favourite costume hand-sewn from sturdy dark-green fabric by her mom, my granny. Her densely pleated skirt has a quite wide waist. Down there are two “zashcheps”, vertical stitched lines which allow the skirt to hold its form. The vest is moulded too. It’s wide and rectangular and also has two ‘half-sashcheps”.

Olya loved this costume. She wore it with great pleasure knowing that no one has something like it. That was her outfit: a shirt, dress with pencil-brooch, headscarf forming her hairstyle and earclip as the final touch”.

Comment by Maria Rasputna.

1986, Autumn

This photo is contributed by Nataliia Chorna, Maria's mother.